US Combat Troops Leaving Iraq

[Scionix]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38744453/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

Sorry if this has already been posted, but I searched and nothing turned up.

 

[Infohawk]

50,000 advisors? Are they really just "advisors"?

 

[Scionix]

50,000 advisors? Are they really just "advisors"?

Probably not, but 50k is a whole helluva lot better than 350k. From what people have been saying, it's mostly infrastructure, intelligence, and contracting people.

 

[BoomerD]

While I don't think we should have ever sent troops INTO Iraq...I fear the place is going to have a bad meltdown once our people are gone.

I've been one of the biggest opponents of the Iraq war ever since it started...but, like it or not, we broke Iraq...we SHOULD have fixed it before we left.

IMO, the place will soon become worse than Iran....maybe even as bad as Somalia.

BUT, Obama did get us out, just like he promised...

 

[Infohawk]

I've been one of the biggest opponents of the Iraq war ever since it started...but, like it or not, we broke Iraq...we SHOULD have fixed it before we left.

Comon' it's impossible to fix it. Might as well cut your losses.

 

[irishScott]

50,000 advisors? Are they really just "advisors"?

They advise our enemies on the ballistics of our weapons.

 

[irishScott]

Comon' it's impossible to fix it. Might as well cut your losses.

It's not impossible, it would just take a helluva lot more effort, will and money than America has right now. Post WWII Japan we had motivation. Here, not so much.

 

[Infohawk]

It's not impossible, it would just take a helluva lot more effort, will and money than America has right now. Post WWII Japan we had motivation. Here, not so much.

How would more money and effort help? Did you support the invasion?

Japan was different. The US actually had a valid reason to invade and occupy. The Japanese (and Germans) were and are a unified people with few axes to grind among themselves. Completely different than invading and occupying Iraq under a bogus pretense and having to deal with competing factions with scores to settle.

 

[sandorski]

While I don't think we should have ever sent troops INTO Iraq...I fear the place is going to have a bad meltdown once our people are gone.

I've been one of the biggest opponents of the Iraq war ever since it started...but, like it or not, we broke Iraq...we SHOULD have fixed it before we left.

IMO, the place will soon become worse than Iran....maybe even as bad as Somalia.

BUT, Obama did get us out, just like he promised...

Iraq is already worse than Iran. At least from a Peace/Order perspective. I'd be more concerned of it turning into Somalia than Iran.

 

[irishScott]

How would more money and effort help? Did you support the invasion?

Japan was different. The US actually had a valid reason to invade and occupy. The Japanese (and Germans) were and are a unified people with few axes to grind among themselves. Completely different than invading and occupying Iraq under a bogus pretense and having to deal with competing factions with scores to settle.

Way to try to disagree with me by agreeing with everything I said.

And we could nation-build anyone, we'd just need to funnel ridiculous amounts of money into development and effectively make Iraq an unofficial US client state. Like I said though, ain't happening.

 

[First]

What's funny is that no one will give Obama credit for doing exactly what he said he'd do. He even almost did it exactly when he said he would with Iraq 2 years ago, think he was only like 3-4 months off.

 

[Infohawk]

What's funny is that no one will give Obama credit for doing exactly what he said he'd do. He even almost did it exactly when he said he would with Iraq 2 years ago, think he was only like 3-4 months off.

I would but 50,000 people is still kind of a lot. We have about 27,000 in South Korea for example.

 

[sandorski]

What's funny is that no one will give Obama credit for doing exactly what he said he'd do. He even almost did it exactly when he said he would with Iraq 2 years ago, think he was only like 3-4 months off.

They already condemned him for not doing so months ago before it was supposed to happen.

 

[First]

I would but 50,000 people is still kind of a lot. We have about 27,000 in South Korea for example.

Right, but we knew this already, he campaigned on brigades leaving not the contingency personnel.

 

[First]

They already condemned him for not doing so months ago before it was supposed to happen.

Yeah, I think that was ba ba bamacre.

 

[Orignal Earl]

Bomber Strikes Iraqi Army Recruits, Killing at Least 61- Aug 17
Four Iran pilgrims among five killed in Iraq bomb - 2 days ago
Several killed in separate attacks in Iraq - 2 hours ago
Al Qaeda in Iraq targets Baghdad’s developing police force - Aug 12
Police: 2 guards killed in Iraq court bombing - Aug 18

Iraq war has forced millions from homes - Aug 18

and the list goes on and on and on


RETREAT !!!

 

[bamacre]

Yeah, I think that was ba ba bamacre.

No, I think I brought out the megaphone after "16 months."

I'll give Obama credit when we have zero troops there, and zero bases, which was another campaign promise.

 

[Orignal Earl]

I'll give Obama credit when we have zero troops there, and zero bases, which was another campaign promise.

How is that ever going to happen?
Is America going to abandon that worlds largest and most expensive embassy (Fortress America) too?

 

[bamacre]

How is that ever going to happen?
Is America going to abandon that worlds largest and most expensive embassy (Fortress America) too?

That monstrosity should never have been built.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

What's funny is that no one will give Obama credit for doing exactly what he said he'd do. He even almost did it exactly when he said he would with Iraq 2 years ago, think he was only like 3-4 months off.

I'll give him credit for doing something easy. This would not be possible if the surge didn't work.

 

[Orignal Earl]

That monstrosity should never have been built.

And Iraq should of never been invaded.
What's done is done.

 

[bamacre]

And Iraq should of never been invaded.
What's done is done.

It was there when Obama campaigned on "no permanent bases in Iraq."

 

[Genx87]

What's funny is that no one will give Obama credit for doing exactly what he said he'd do. He even almost did it exactly when he said he would with Iraq 2 years ago, think he was only like 3-4 months off.

I will give him credit. I honestly am surprised the media hasnt been reporting on it more. I didnt know we were down to the last combat brigade.

 

[Rainsford]

I will give him credit. I honestly am surprised the media hasnt been reporting on it more. I didnt know we were down to the last combat brigade.

Must be that famous "liberal media bias"

Seriously though, the media just sucks. Iraq is boring (they think), LEAVING it is even more boring. Bring on Lindsay Lohan, idiotic "Ground Zero Mosque" debates and talk shows pretending to be news.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

What I want to know is how many private contractors remain in Iraq on the US taxpayers dime? One of the things that have been most troubling to me in Iraq and Afganistan has been the massive use of private security contractors. This incideous practice has completly removed any government accountability of warfare spending and put a black eye on the US in regards to their less than humanitarian actions.

These contractors operate in almost total anonymity and are held accountable by no one, they aren't included in any published troop numbers even though their costs to the taxpayer are many many times that of a normal soldier. The over the top use of for-hire missionaries is the trademark of failure that defines the wars in Iraq and Afganistan.