Remaining US troops still face danger in Iraq

[Infohawk]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_iraq

"BAGHDAD – Lt. Ryan Alexander stands thigh-deep in a dark grove of reeds and palm trees, hunting for rockets. Officially, the U.S. combat role in Iraq is ending this month, but Alexander and his platoon are under orders to keep insurgents from using the south Baghdad field as a hiding place for Katyushas.
"We're going to be doing this as long as they tell us," Alexander said in a near-whisper in the steamy pre-dawn air, his machine gun slung over his shoulder. Behind him, Iraqi Lt. Wassan Fadah Hussein had his handgun out and ready for action.
In the near distance came a gunshot. "Sounded like a little boom," Alexander drawled.
The number of U.S. soldiers in Iraq dipped Tuesday to 49,700, dropping below the 50,000 threshold ahead of the end-of-the-month deadline set by President Barack Obama. But the war is not yet over for the remaining troops, who will continue to put themselves in danger on counterterror raids and other high-risk missions that aren't called combat but can be just as deadly."

Anyone still want to claim US troops aren't fighting in Iraq? This is just nonsensical double-speak.

Honest question: Who is behind this message that the combat is over? Obama? The brass? Whoever's doing it needs to be more straightforward.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Mission accomplished

 

[DesiPower]

ya the combat is over, we ran out of money and so we are giving up our hopes of building a permanent base here, please let us leave in peace, we only want peace and prosperity for your nation, in fact that the only reason we were here in the first place. After all we are the one who got rid of Saddam who was killing ppl by the hundreds every year.

 

[Red Dawn]

We're going to be doing this as long as they tell us," Alexander said in a near-whisper in the steamy pre-dawn air, his machine gun slung over his shoulder. Behind him, Iraqi Lt. Wassan Fadah Hussein had his handgun out and ready for action.

I don't know if this is the case in this instance but as Advisors they'll be going out with Iraqi troops conducting combat missions "Advising" them.

 

[EagleKeeper]

How soon will we have to ramp up forces to support the advisors when they get into a sticky situation.

Deja vue from 50 years ago

 

[xj0hnx]

How soon will we have to ramp up forces to support the advisors when they get into a sticky situation.

Deja vue from 50 years ago

Chances are good that a lot of the "advisers" left are the ones they would call to help in that sticky situation.

 

[Red Dawn]

How soon will we have to ramp up forces to support the advisors when they get into a sticky situation.

Deja vue from 50 years ago

Yep it is always difficult to extracate ourselves from horrendous mistakes.

 

[nobodyknows]

Honest question: Who is behind this message that the combat is over? Obama? The brass? Whoever's doing it needs to be more straightforward.

It's an election year, drink the kool aid and shut up!!

 

[Fear No Evil]

Yep it is always difficult to extracate ourselves from horrendous mistakes.

Got at least 2 more years on the current one. Hopefully we can make some progress in November.. :twisted:

 

[Red Dawn]

Got at least 2 more years on the current one. Hopefully we can make some progress in November.. :twisted:

I dunno, the Republicans who were the party of the "American Century" are the ones who started it.

 

[PeshakJang]

I don't know if this is the case in this instance but as Advisors they'll be going out with Iraqi troops conducting combat missions "Advising" them.

That's all we did in Afghanistan... never went out without Afghan police or army.

Guess that war is over too!