US abandons plans to keep troops in Iraq next year

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

The Obama administration is abandoning plans to keep U.S. troops in Iraq past a year-end withdrawal deadline, The Associated Press has learned.

A senior administration official in Washington confirmed Saturday that all American troops will leave except for about 160 troops attached to the U.S. Embassy. The Pentagon had considered leaving up to 5,000 troops to train security forces and hinder Iranian influence.

A senior U.S. military official said the withdrawal could allow future, limited U.S. military training missions if requested.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44914606/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/

---

Force will leave except for 160 troops attached to U.S. Embassy, AP learns

[TheWraith]

1. I'm waiting for someone to chime in now and tell me it doesn't really count.

That Obama's really a horrible warmonger who's invaded 27 other countries, and how we're secretly (and apparently invisibly) still occupying Iraq.

[aquart]

3. Well, tell me what our mercenary bill is for Iraq.

Then I'll be able to let you know.

[TheWraith]

5. Ah yes, the famous "mercenary bill."

Please point to the number of, and line item in the budget for the payment for, mercenaries in Iraq in the employ of the US Government.

[Robb]

25. Well, on the one hand, there are some.

We (and the DoD) call them "Private Security Contractors," or PSCs. But they're basically mercenaries by any definition.

On the other hand, there are fewer of them in Iraq now (about 9,000 per DoD) than there were at the height in 2009 (about 15,000). So their numbers are decreasing.

On the third hand ( :D ), there will be more of them as regular troops leave and State takes on a lot of the existing roles.

On the fourth hand (this is fun!), State's estimates are well below that 6,000 drop since 2009 -- they're talking about adding maybe 3,000 at most.

So counting up the hands, they are there, there are fewer than there were once, there will be more, but not as many as most people talking about it seem to think.

The Congressional Research Service did a good white paper on PSCs for Congress in May, I'll try to dig it up if you'd like.

[aquart]

32. You mean Blackwater wasn't there?

Sure, kid.

[SharksBreath]

20. The reason they are not staying has nothing to do with Obama.

"However, the Pentagon was FORCED to reconsider after Iraqi political leaders refused to give legal immunity to U.S. troops"

See that. FORCED.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_IRAQ_US_TROOPS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-10-15-14-44-18

[TheWraith]

23. Spin spin spin. Anything to justify the constant drumbeat of "OBAMA BAD!"

You've conveniently left out the part that the Pentagon was "forced" to RECONSIDER a PROPOSAL, not "forced to leave Iraq."

[Muskypundit]

36. See here. If it were bush, he would have ignored the iraqis

Or exerted pressure on them so they would never give a free verdict on the issue. Obama let them decide, which is bigger than most presidents in history would allow.

Little by little the neo-conservative policy of the past 8 years is being torn down and replaced by something much much better. But you can't get off your 'everything Obama does is bad' box to see it.

[defendandprotect]

112. Wow! kind of interesting .... also .... 99% OWS I doubt are pro-Pentagon $$$/pro-war !!!!!

You can be sure that these demonstrations are impacting .... somewhere!!

[Javaman]

24. I won't but I will say, I'm impressed that he's keeping his word...

unlike the "I won't sign this bill unless there is a public option in it" promise.

It's truly a sad day when we laud someone just for keeping their word.

We are a very sad society.

[boppers]

33. Well, he never said that, so....

Hint #1: Don't use quotes if you're not actually quoting something, if you don't want to look like you're being deliberately misleading.

Hint #2: In spite of republican insistence, repeating a lie does not make it true.

Hint #3: "any plan I sign must include an insurance exchange: a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, cost and track records of a variety of plans - including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest - and choose what's best for your family." Is the relevant quote.

[Javaman]

40. And here's a little uncovered tidbit about the withdrawal that's not getting a lot of press...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/10/15/international/i124520D88.DTL

Throughout the discussions, Iraqi leaders have adamantly refused to give U.S. troops immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts, and the Americans have refused to stay without it. Iraq's leadership has been split on whether it wanted American forces to stay. Some argued the further training and U.S. help was vital, particularly to protect Iraq's airspace and gather security intelligence. But others have deeply opposed any American troop presence, including Shiite militiamen who have threatened attacks on any American forces who remain.

-------

So there it is. It isn't some noble thing that the administration wants to do, it's the fact that the US didn't get it's way and is now taking it's blocks and going home. Had the Iraqi's granted immunity, we would still be there.

Yeah, doing the right thing and all... :eyes:

[woo me with science]

46. So the administration WANTED to stay,

but Iraq is the one resisting.

How could we ever have predicted that? :eyes:

Thank you.

[defendandprotect]

113. +1 --- ouch!

[Javaman]

41. You are correct. Obama never ever gives definitives.

what was I thinking? that would be, oh what's it called, leadership?

[Muskypundit]

34. 160 troops still!!!! Imperialism i tell ya

[Javaman]

114. Please take a little peeky at #40. nt

[JackRiddler]

116. Of course the fulfillment of the terms of the SOFA negotiated by Bush counts...

Remember, withdrawal of US troops is being conducted under the terms of the SOF Agreement of 2007, which requires all US troops out of Iraq by the end of this year. It is not Obama's initiative. It would be good, assuming the reports are true, that the administration has decided to stop its effort to change the terms of the SOFA, and to follow it.

Now what about the 100,000 mercenaries and contractors still there?

What about bringing the perpetrators of this war of aggression to justice?

What about reparations to the people of Iraq for what has been done to them?

You think genocide goes away?

[Javaman]

117. Read my post at #40. nt

[barbtries]

2. very glad to hear this.

now let's get out of the rest of the world.

[Supersedeas]

121. it really took a full throated response from the Iraqis to reach this conclusion

[lordsummerisle]

4. But how many contractors will remain? n/t

[rurallib]

14. was wondering the exact same thing

I can't imagine there would be any soldier types. So maybe some cooks etc. in the embassy?

[defendandprotect]

111. Numbers were as high as 45,000 if not more ... !!!

Imagine what that was costing us !!

Dems did a little work on hearings re profiteers -- not nearly enough!

[Arctic Dave]

6. Obama administration is abandoning plans to keep U.S. troops in Iraq past a year-end withdrawal dead

Good!

The bad part is, THEY WANTED TO KEEP THEM THERE! WTF!

I am so glad Iraq told them to go home.

And yes, we should have legitimate concerns about mercenaries also.

[TheWraith]

8. Nice attempt at spin. Too bad it's wrong.

If you bothered to actually read before attempting to smear Obama, you'd notice that it was CONSIDERED, not PLANNED. There's a big difference, particularly when you recall that they've been saying that basically all of the troops would be out by the end of the year all along. Despite the constant spin of the media trying to drum up a story to the contrary.

[Arctic Dave]

9. Yeah, coming straight out of the top military dog's mouth is media spin.

Which he was never reprimanded for.

If the desire to keep troops in Iraq was never there, why didn't they just come out and say it. Instead of the mushy mouthed, "if they ask us, I guess we'll do it".

[TheWraith]

16. They DID say it, if you were actually listening.

The response was that if they were asked, they would CONSIDER it, the minimum polite response, which was always couched under the terms of "we have a goal of withdrawal." But that's not as fun as accusing the President of being a secret warmonger... so secret in fact that he's about as effective a secret warmonger as he is a secret muslim. :eyes:

[Arctic Dave]

30. LOL. The old "what they really meant to say" blather.

As being a "secret warmonger", no secret at all. As for the Muslim part, I take it you through that in because you knew the rest of your statements wete FOS so why not muddy the water.


Lame on all fronts.

[woo me with science]

43. Thank you. nt

[PoliticAverse]

7. "Iraqi political leaders have rejected giving legal immunity to U.S. troops — a deal-breaker..." n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

10. K&R

:kick:

[Davis_X_Machina]

11. They'll all be in Uganda. Don't lose sight of the big picture. It's the oil.

[Posteritatis]

12. Oy. (nt)

[Davis_X_Machina]

13. Hey...

...you have no idea how much time and energy I save by simply viewing everything through filters and perspectives I developed thirty-forty years ago.

Enough time to learn several languages, and at least two instruments. And you should see my raised-bed gardens.

[JackRiddler]

126. Thirty-four? That would be 1977?

Tell us more. Interesting.

[TheWraith]

18. Right, 100 troops in Uganda, and 5 buckets of oil, is EXACTLY the same as Iraq.

Because there's no difference between 100 and 140,000.

Hey, can I borrow a hundred bucks? :P

[grantcart]

22. Except

The US advised Iraqi's to use a transparent system of awarding oil
Contracts that resulted in exactly no US oil companies getting any contracts.

[MH1]

27. Yeah, that's why Feingold sponsored the Uganda intervention bill last session.

Because we know he, and Franken and Boxer and Kerry and Sherrod Brown and all the others are ALL about OIL.

:sarcasm:

[Davis_X_Machina]

28. It's very rude of you to pose new questions when I have all the answers..

...already worked out.

[shanti]

39. uganda?

how about a little closer to home?

[obxhead]

15. How many contractor troops will remain?

[Javaman]

26. Probably about 100K. nt

[Fire Walk With Me]

17. ...

[TheWraith]

19. Good thing then that that money isn't going to be spent there anymore. nt

[OnyxCollie]

21. Move the troops to Kuwait and commute to work. nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

109. HA!

:evilgrin:

[Yon_Yonson]

29. Sure ... I will beleive it when I see it!

[Scurrilous]

31. Good news.

:thumbsup:

[SkyDaddy7]

35. Thank-you President Obama for...

Keeping your promise!

4 more years!!

[emilyg]

115. Before you get all

choked up - White House denying this.

[totodeinhere]

37. It wouldn't surprise me if something happens at the last minute that they will use as an excuse

to stay. And if the Iraqi government doesn't like it a few greased palms will do the trick.

[Brian Okamura]

38. The White House is denying this story.

Click here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5028292

[woo me with science]

42. The administration is not leaving Iraq and has no plans to weaken the military industrial complex.

The administration is not leaving Iraq and has no plans to weaken the military industrial complex.

US plans 3 billion dollar mercenary force in Iraq for 2012
http://jhaines6.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/u-s-plans-3-billion-mercenary-force-for-iraq/

Mercenary forces to double in Iraq after 2011
http://waronyou.com/topics/u-s-to-double-mercenary-forces-in-iraq-after-2011-military-pullout/

As U.S. Military Exits Iraq, Contractors To Enter
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/17/136357821/as-u-s-military-exits-iraq-contractors-to-enter

White House denies decision to pull troops out of Iraq is final
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5028292


There is always isolated talk of troop drawdowns in this or that place by this administration and its mouthpieces, who conveniently neglect to mention escalations or new conflicts elsewhere or the replacement of drawn-down troops by mercenaries.

Drawdowns and end to war, my ass. War is PROFIT for the banks and corporations who hire our politicians, and they have no intention of slowing down the war machine. Draw down one place, ramp up somewhere else, or replace troops with mercenaries who cost ten times as much. Obama already had Panetta out talking about how the Super Congress must cut Social Security and Medicare rather than endangering the military budget, and this week he came out with another warning about cuts. And off we go into new countries.

Make no mistake about it, the military industrial complex need not worry about its future under Obama:


SOCOM. Bush- 60 countries. Obama 120 countries by end of 2011
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2118912&mesg_id=2122224

US Military pushing for up to 18,000 troops to remain in Iraq
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2118912&mesg_id=2119095 ; http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2011/0907/Iraq-withdrawal-How-many-US-troops-will-remain

OBAMA AGREES WITH PANETTA, ENDORSES MEDICARE ‘ADJUSTMENTS’ OVER DEFENSE CUTS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1692899

Panetta Starts Singing Contractors’ Tune After Closed-Door Meeting
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1964568

Panetta: Cutting too deep would devastate military
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5025964

A Top Senate Dem Says Iran Plot May Be Act Of War
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5024359

[Major Hogwash]

44. When is the ticker tape Victory Parade scheduled?

Oh, I can hardly wait.

[Romulox]

45. ...right around the time the Presidents implements the promised NAFTA renegotiation starts, I bet!

Campaign 2012 must be kicking off!

[ClarkUSA]

47. US: We're out of Iraq by January

Source: The Press Association

The decision to pull out fully by January will effectively end more than eight years of US involvement in the Iraq war, despite concerns about its security forces and the potential for instability.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gmYlPTUJyjhXU5w6-19ONSrFdARQ?docId=N0096031318726710549A

---

End of an era: The closure of Camp Victory after eight years


"...a senior Obama administration official in Washington confirmed Saturday that all American troops will leave Iraq except for about 160 active-duty soldiers attached to the U.S. Embassy.

A senior U.S. military official confirmed the departure" to the AP.... "Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue."

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/presidentobamaendediraqwar

[Tx4obama]

48. The link doesn't go anywhere here on my end. n/t

[Tx4obama]

49. Here's a AP link

APNewsBreak: US drops keeping troops in Iraq

BAGHDAD (AP) -- The U.S. is abandoning plans to keep U.S. troops in Iraq past a year-end withdrawal deadline, The Associated Press has learned. The decision to pull out fully by January will effectively end more than eight years of U.S. involvement in the Iraq war, despite ongoing concerns about its security forces and the potential for instability.

The decision ends months of hand-wringing by U.S. officials over whether to stick to a Dec. 31 withdrawal deadline that was set in 2008 or negotiate a new security agreement to ensure that gains made and more than 4,400 American military lives lost since March 2003 do not go to waste.

In recent months, Washington has been discussing with Iraqi leaders the possibility of several thousand American troops remaining to continue training Iraqi security forces. A Pentagon spokesman said Saturday that no final decision has been reached about the U.S. training relationship with the Iraqi government.

But a senior Obama administration official in Washington confirmed Saturday that all American troops will leave Iraq except for about 160 active-duty soldiers attached to the U.S. Embassy.

A senior U.S. military official confirmed the departure and said the withdrawal could allow future but limited U.S. military training missions in Iraq if requested.

SNIP

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_IRAQ_US_TROOPS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-10-16-00-50-17


p.s. K&R'd the OP :)

[Initech]

50. The skeptical part of me tells me this isn't a real announcement.

Something tells me the GOP will pull a last minute save and get another $700 billion in funding. :nuke:

[Ter]

52. Something tells me it won't be the GOP...

n/t

[Tx4obama]

53. It IS a real announcement. And it is on the front page of CNN.com right now. n/t

[former9thward]

66. This report has been denied by both DoD and the White House.

http://news.yahoo.com/no-decision-yet-future-troop-presence-iraq-u-002648871.html

[UnrepentantLiberal]

90. Aw shucks, I hate it when there's a sticking point.

"U.S. and Iraqi officials have been negotiating the prospects for up to several thousand U.S. troops staying, but the main sticking point has been an Iraqi refusal to grant the military personnel legal immunity, as Washington has demanded."

[Muskypundit]

96. You dont know how the military works.

It is done. Everyone has orders to go home, most are already home, we have begun processes that cannot be stopped. It is over

[Javaman]

118. Anything can be stopped at any moment by order of the president.

that's how the military works.

[Muskypundit]

122. In theory.

But because of the insane logistics behind clusterfucking the withdrawal, Obama had said months ago the iraqis needed to say what they want immediately, because it can't be stopped easily. Or fairly to our troops.

[Javaman]

124. no, in the constitution. nt

[aquart]

51. We weren't invited and we aren't welcome.

[malthaussen]

54. So the AP says Yes, Reuters says No, and

... I'm starting to think this Iraq thing is just a reflection of Brett Favre's mind...

-- Mal

[ClarkUSA]

56. It seems some folks let the cat out of the bag before the WH was ready to go public.

"...a senior Obama administration official in Washington confirmed Saturday that all American troops will leave Iraq except for about 160 active-duty soldiers attached to the U.S. Embassy.

A senior U.S. military official confirmed the departure" to the AP.... "Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue."

http://tinyurl.com/presidentobamaendediraqwar

[caseymoz]

89. I'd call it a trial balloon.

They're waiting to see if the American people have had enough of this shit, yet. If Fox Fandom goes ape-shit, the administration leaves it open to say, "Oh, that official was at the wrong meeting. Here's the real plan . . ."

I'd be surprised if even hard line conservatives oppose this now. They've come around to see, gee, the it's the right thing to do now, but they'll say it was the wrong thing to do before because _______. Just like civil rights, just like global warming, liberals saw it and will be stripped of any credit for having figured it out eight years before conservatives did.

[phasma ex machina]

102. I'd call it the campaign season when the powers-that-be (Banksters-Fed & Fascist-Corps) promise all

sorts of B.S. to the peasantry.

[caseymoz]

110. Except they've never implied this before.

It was always a mealy-mouthed offer way short of this.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

55. Just in time for the start of the next war.

:cry:

[ClarkUSA]

57. You're right. President Obama will be waging war against the likely Republican nominee by that time.

I, for one, have signed up to help him defeat his political opponents.

[think4yourself]

58. Great news!

Except 5000 contractors will remain.

[stockholmer]

59. Iran, Syria, and Nigeria await!!!!

:banghead:

[EvilMonsanto]

60. What About Contractors?

There are more contractors then troops
And let's be honest here, they a contractor is someone who fixes my leaky faucet
But these contractors are mercenaries

What about the mercenaries? They cost more, have way less accountability and outnumber troops
Also if a civilian is killed by a mercenary it doesn't officialy count towards a civilian kill

[think4yourself]

61. 5000 contractors will stay

There's 41,000 US troops there now.

[OnlinePoker]

65. Is the Iraqi government a puppet of the U.S. or able to make their own decisions?

I would suspect that once the U.S. military is gone, the contractors would be kept on a fairly short leash by the Iraqi government and held to account for any crimes they commit.

[jwirr]

80. And IMO the contractors are more dangerous to the people of Iraq

than the US military. The contractor's are not under the supervision of anyone but their own company and whoever else they sell out to.

[woo me with science]

62. The administration is not leaving Iraq and has no plans to weaken the military industrial complex.

US plans 3 billion dollar mercenary force in Iraq for 2012
http://jhaines6.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/u-s-plans-3-billion-mercenary-force-for-iraq/

Mercenary forces to double in Iraq after 2011
http://waronyou.com/topics/u-s-to-double-mercenary-forces-in-iraq-after-2011-military-pullout/

As U.S. Military Exits Iraq, Contractors To Enter
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/17/136357821/as-u-s-military-exits-iraq-contractors-to-enter

White House denies decision to pull troops out of Iraq is final
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5028292


There is always isolated talk of troop drawdowns in this or that place by this administration and its mouthpieces, who conveniently neglect to mention escalations or new conflicts elsewhere or the replacement of drawn-down troops by mercenaries.

Drawdowns and end to war, my ass. War is PROFIT for the banks and corporations who hire our politicians, and they have no intention of slowing down the war machine. Draw down one place, ramp up somewhere else, or replace troops with mercenaries who cost ten times as much. Obama already had Panetta out talking about how the Super Congress must cut Social Security and Medicare rather than endangering the military budget, and this week he came out with another warning about cuts. And off we go into new countries.

Make no mistake about it, the military industrial complex need not worry about its future under Obama:


SOCOM. Bush- 60 countries. Obama 120 countries by end of 2011
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2118912&mesg_id=2122224

US Military pushing for up to 18,000 troops to remain in Iraq
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2118912&mesg_id=2119095 ; http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2011/0907/Iraq-withdrawal-How-many-US-troops-will-remain

OBAMA AGREES WITH PANETTA, ENDORSES MEDICARE ‘ADJUSTMENTS’ OVER DEFENSE CUTS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1692899

Panetta Starts Singing Contractors’ Tune After Closed-Door Meeting
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1964568

Panetta: Cutting too deep would devastate military
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5025964

A Top Senate Dem Says Iran Plot May Be Act Of War
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5024359

[KG]

68. ++++

[Divernan]

95. As you demonstrate, the weight of evidence is that US will continue funding war in Iraq

whether it's official military forces or contractors' mercenaries.

[wizstars]

98. A good time for Rent-An-Army

yep, expect the rentals to be in place, milking the taxpayers for all they can.

[Javaman]

119. What did I tell you about bringing facts and links????

Don't make me come back there!!!

Thanks for the post, there are so many here on DU that fall into the "unbelievably naive" category.

[RoccoR5955]

63. Something tells me that this is a precursor to...

a war in Iran. One last ditch effort for Obama to play a strategy to have the Right vote for him in a time of war. Face it, the Military/Industrial Complex needs war. The only thing we really make in factories here are implements of war. When we lose assets, more will have to be built, so there are the jobs too!

I'm not in favor of this, it's what I fear is their strategy.

[Javaman]

120. Frankly, aside from drone strikes on Iran, I don't see a ground war...

at least not yet.

Iran is not Iraq. It's vastly larger and has a better equipped and trained army.

plus the population is not endeared to the religious authority.

If we attacked, that would change quickly.

Also, if we do attack, I foresee Iran attacking troops in Afghanistan before anything else.

Strategically speaking, that would offer the most room for benefits to Iran than anything else.

Suddenly the US would be fighting a two front war in Afghanistan with little help from anyone in that area other than the tepid help we get from India. I think you would suddenly see a very fully funded taliban appear on the scene.

Also, there would be big issue in regards to Russia. While they probably won't side with Iran directly, they would probably channel support through other avenues.

Attacking Iran would bring a whole new definition to the term cluster fuck.

That doesn't mean it still couldn't happen, but given everything else going on in our economy, socially, etc, it really wouldn't be the best of ideas.

If it were to happen, say, within the next 6 months, the economy of Europe would suddenly take a hit and any plan to rescue Greece that was either in place or partially in place would collapse. That alone would be a very very bad thing.

So, it will be interesting to watch the walk along the knife blade that the US takes in dealing with Iran.

Frankly, I see nothing more than inflated rhetoric ending in yet another stalemate of nothing measurable being achieved.

[newspeak]

127. yeah, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

On to Iran now, our new pnac mission.

[KansDem]

64. Good!, since we had no business being there anyway...

nt

[OnyxCollie]

70. We are in Iraq because of 9/11.

(According to Leon Panetta, anyway.)

Panetta ties war in Iraq to 9/11 attack
http://articles.boston.com/2011-07-12/news/29765781_1_al-qaeda-iraq-war-camp-victory

BAGHDAD - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta yesterday appeared to justify the US invasion of Iraq as part of the war against Al Qaeda, an argument made by the Bush administration but rejected by President Obama and many Democrats.

Panetta made the remarks during his inaugural visit to Iraq as Pentagon chief. Speaking to about 100 soldiers at Camp Victory, the largest US military installation in Baghdad, he said his primary goal as defense secretary was to defeat Al Qaeda worldwide.

“The reason you guys are here is because on 9/11 the United States got attacked,’’ Panetta told the troops. “And 3,000 Americans - 3,000 not just Americans, 3,000 human beings, innocent human beings - got killed because of Al Qaeda. And we’ve been fighting as a result of that.’’

His statement echoed previous comments made by President George W. Bush and members of his administration, who tried to tie Saddam Hussein’s government to Al Qaeda.

The Administration is willing to sell us this (Bush's) lie, so why should I believe anything else they have to say? And why should I believe anything this Administration says when they are willing to sell us Bush's lie, in addition to having gone so far as to claim powers based on secret authority (assassinating a US citizen without a trial) that even surpassed what the Bush Administration had done?

[L0oniX]

71. Leon Panetta is tool. Anyone with brains knows Iraq had nothing to do with 911.

[OnyxCollie]

74. Panetta is a shining example of the Peter Principle.

He's not smart enough to deviate from the corporate line.

[GoCubsGo]

81. But, he's right.

9/11 just gave Shit-for-Brains the excuse he needed to go into Iraq. Whether or not that excuse was legitimate is another story. If it weren't for 9/11, I don't believe this country would be susceptible to the lies and fear-mongering. I'm not saying this is the point Panetta was trying to make, but Idiot Boy would couldn't have gotten us in there without that event.

[OnyxCollie]

84. Reliable? Yes. Valid? No. nt

[MrTriumph]

75. More evidence there is no "change", only Bush's 3rd term.

x

[UnrepentantLiberal]

92. Yup

[NYC_SKP]

131. Would you really expect him to tell troops that they're there based on a lie?

Try, seriously, to imagine being in his position with all those eyes staring back at you.

I wouldn't want to trade places.

[former9thward]

67. A false report according to the White House.

http://news.yahoo.com/no-decision-yet-future-troop-presence-iraq-u-002648871.html

[Orrex]

69. Careless rumors like this might lead to a premature peace!

[L0oniX]

72. and Obama's original promise was that we would be out of Iraq when?

[IamK]

88. around the same time as Guantanamo....

[Tx4obama]

108. The original promise has already been kept - see below

Politifact has rated Obama's withdrawal promise as PROMISE KEPT in 2010

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/promise/126/begin-removing-combat-brigades-from-iraq/

[chrisa]

73. I'll believe it when I see it, personally.

[Romulox]

76. LOL! Campaign 2012 is officially starting, I guess. Ponies are again being promised!

:silly:

[slay]

78. And only 8 years too late!

after billions and billions of dollars wasted and all the lives lost.. sigh.. :( Still.. i am glad we are FINALLY leaving - IF we actually do this time.

[harun]

100. Would have to say I agree 100%. That's ponies we smell......

[sarcasmo]

77. This a start, close Gitmo now!

[slay]

79. "The Obama administration denied a news report on Saturday it had made a final decision

to pull almost all U.S. troops out of Iraq by a year-end withdrawal deadline.

The White House and Pentagon both denied an Associated Press report citing unnamed U.S. officials saying they completely dropped the idea of possibly keeping a significant contingent in Iraq as trainers for Iraqi security forces beyond 2011."

more: http://news.yahoo.com/no-decision-yet-future-troop-presence-iraq-u-002648871.html

[Taverner]

82. Fucking FINALLY

[BiggJawn]

83. Bring 'em home, let 'em meet their kid for the first time, have a parade...

... Then ship them off to wage Holy War against Iran.

These fuckers in Washington are *SO* predictable!

[OKDem08]

85. I call bullshit! We didn't build a $500 million embassy for nothing!

[orbitalman]

86. "...anonymity because of the sensitivity..." sure, sure....

Excuse my cynicism. I'll believe only when I see it. The military has a way of prolonging their involvement.

[caseymoz]

87. Mission Accomplished!

I must have missed that recent decisive victory in the battle liberating Iraq from the Axis of Evil once and for all, because I swear, nothing about it sounds different than it was yesterday. It's the same huge mess we made in 2003, which was bigger than the mess we made in the previous Gulf War.

We need to give the Bush family a one-way ticket to Iraq, where I'm sure they'll be welcomed.

[sce56]

91. SO except for the 160 there are a bunch of less than 99day Short timers!

Stay Safe short timers!



When I jump out of bed, I free fall for 3 minutes before I open my chute! And then it takes all day to climb out of my boots!
-I could parachute off a dime!
-I had to parachute off my bunk to the floor today!
-I can walk on stilts under a pregnant amoeba!
-I am knee high to a tadpole!
-I drink coffee with a long straw because I can't reach the table!
-I have to jump up to look down!
-I can play handball against a curb!
-They use my height to measure jungle boot tread!
-I could jump off the edge of a quarter and scream "AAAHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhh" all the way down!
-I was too short to be seen at my farewell party!
-I have to blouse my flak vest inside my boots!
-I have to look UP to a 2nd Lieutenant!
-I have to stuff paper in my boots to see out!
-I could sit on my thumb and let my feet dangle!
-I can sleep in a matchbox!
-I have to part my eyebrows to trim my toenails!
-You can see my feet on my driver's license!
-I can walk under a worm without bending over!
-I can sit on a dime and dangle my feet!
-I have to use a ladder to scratch a snake's belly!
-I left yesterday!
-I could trip on a dime!
-I can't even carry on this conversation!
-My feet don't touch the ground!
-I can't even stand on a dime to see over a nickle!
-I have to look up to see down!
-I don't have to open the door to leave the room!
-By the time you recognize me, I'll be gone!
-During firefights, I just crawl under my rucksack!
-During incoming, I have my personal sandbag to get under!
-I am next!
-I won't write another letter, because I'll beat it home!
-I can hide behind a blade of grass!
-You don't really see me, I'm just a figment of your imagination!
-I got lost in my boots, just putting them on!
-I can sit on a dime and dangle my legs!
-I can walk under a pregnant ant with a top hat on!
-I need a ladder to step up on the curb!
-I need a step stool to reach the piss tube!
-I'm too short for long conversations!
-You need a magnifying glass to see me!
-I have to stand on tip-toes to see out of a tank track!
-I'm counting seconds!
-I might not start another letter, 'cause I'll be gone before I finish it!

[Zorra]

93. Great news, hope it comes to pass. nt

[SomethingFishy]

94. And here is the White House and Pentagon denial of the story...

http://news.yahoo.com/no-decision-yet-future-troop-presence-iraq-u-002648871.html

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration denied a news report on Saturday it had made a final decision to pull almost all U.S. troops out of Iraq by a year-end withdrawal deadline.
The White House and Pentagon both denied an Associated Press report citing unnamed U.S. officials saying they completely dropped the idea of possibly keeping a significant contingent in Iraq as trainers for Iraqi security forces beyond 2011.

So who do we believe? Reuters or AP?

:shrug:

[harun]

101. That's more like it, no way the other story is true.

[phasma ex machina]

103. Although this situation calls for giving AP more credibility than City of London bankster parrot

Reuters any talk of troop withdrawal remains "feel good" campaign season B.S.

[Yon_Yonson]

97. Sure ... I will beleive it when I see it!

The shits falling apart at home with ‘OCCUPY EVERYTHING’ and now we can bring home the troops! I smell NEOCON RATS at work!

[RufusTFirefly]

104. I hear the President has a "secret plan" to end the war

[Yon_Yonson]

107. This CROOK'S secret plan was to bomb Cambodia & Laos and he still lost!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

99. About time!

[2Design]

105. not likely unless moving them to another conflict - these are the only jobs they have created

[Tiggeroshii]

106. I'll believe it when I see it.

IF Obama wants to help his poll numbers though, he better start following through with some of these claims.

[Javaman]

125. +1. nt

[panzerfaust]

123. Will send them to Mexico instead?

[harun]

129. More oil in Canada

[Rhiannon12866]

128. So why wasn't this the top story before today?!

:woohoo:

[Robb]

130. Duelling unnamed senior officials, I think.

In fairness, at this point in things we had unnamed officials on one side saying the Pentagon wanted to keep troops here indefinitely, and this story is another unnamed official saying "we're out."

Of course, sine then the latter has become official policy, and the former not as much. The "common belief" tale did not match up with actual events, so there's a bit of what I'll charitably call confusion. :)

[Rhiannon12866]

132. Thank you. I think what you mean is squabbling.

And that seems to be par for the course in every branch of our current government. *sigh* :( :hi: