Report: Obama Wants Major U.S. Troop Withdrawal as Kurdish Leader Asks U.S. to Stay in Iraq
- Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:23pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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Reports are breaking early Tuesday afternoon that the Obama administration has decided to scale down the number of U.S. troops in Iraq to just 3,000 by the end of the year. Fox News reports:
“Senior commanders are said to be livid at the decision, which has already been signed off by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
The generals on the ground had requested that the number of troops remaining in Iraq at the end of the year reach about 27,000. But, there was major pushback about ‘the cost and the political optics’ of that decision that the number was then reduced to 10,000.”
Responding live to the announcement while being interviewed on Fox, Independent Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman said that in all the conversations he has had on force strength, he has “never heard a number as low as 3,000 troops to secure the gains Iraqis have won over the years.”
The news comes as reports surface that the powerful leader of Iraq’s Kurdish autonomous region made his first public appeal for American forces to stay in Iraq, saying on Tuesday that if they leave sectarian violence may erupt.
Massoud Barzani rules the three northern provinces that make up the Kurds’ self-ruled region. While Kurds generally want American forces to stay in Iraq, Barzani‘s speech Tuesday marked the fist time he’s taken a public stance in favor of keeping an American troop presence in Iraq into next year.
During a televised speech, Barzani said that, if American troops leave, the sectarian violence that plagued Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion might erupt anew. He called on the Iraqi government in Baghdad to sign an agreement with the Americans to keep forces in the country.
“In my opinion if the American forces withdraw there will be a possibility of civil war,” he said.
Under a 2008 security agreement between Washington and Baghdad, all U.S. troops are slated to leave by Dec. 31, 2011. But continued instability and fear of growing Iranian influence in Iraq has prompted some Iraqi and U.S. officials to reconsider the deadline.
The U.S. has stressed repeatedly that Iraq must formally request the American military to stay longer and describe specifically what type of role they would like the American military to play if the deadline is to be extended.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
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Comments (116)
PATTY HENRY
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:56pmCOMPARE those horrible eyes with PALIN’S…hers have life and love and hope in them and the Obama’s is pure hatred and evil.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:28pmWithdrawing the troops was one of Obama’s campaign pledges that he -of course- never fulfilled on. Now that elections are just a little over a year away…hmmm.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:31pmHi Paddy,
Artistic interpretation into the windows of the soul reveal the cockles of the heart, the gilt lily of the motive, the meandering of the conscience.
TEA
JRook
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:44pmNo question Palin loves getting paid for doing nothing and hopes her followers will keep buying her books and paying for her to be the movie critic who never actually makes a movie.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:53pmYou have to love those euphemisms…“political optics”. It’s an election year in 2012 and Obama is desperate to try to get his sinking job approvals up. So if going against your military advisors for a few votes is politically expedient…then so be it.
Report Post »Whenever I believe Obama has hit the lowest he can go…he finds new depths of vulgarity to plummet to.
armywife987
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 4:15pmGood point
Report Post »SanRemo1959
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 4:28pmNice going Blaze. I remember a famous time magazine photo of the Ayatollah. It showed only his eyes, just like the the above photo of Obama. The expressions are identical.; seething hatred for America and Americans. If Obama’s not the AntiChrist then Pro Wrestling the real deal. I mean, look into those eyes. Makes me shudder if I look at them too long. Obama is an Iranian Manchurian candidate. No doubt about it. Everything he does strengthens Iran. Someone(Rick Perry) please save from this Barrackatolah!
Report Post »Carp_resident
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 7:23pmThe eyes are the window to the soul. Egotistic evil I what I see in those Obama eyes.
Report Post »db321
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 4:53amI don’t think Obama cares one moment about getting his ratings up – the faster Obama can move our troops out of Iraq – the faster the Muslim extremest can move back into Iraq – these extremest will take over Iraq Oil and cut off America from the supplies – America will come to a halt and Obama will have been able to take America without firing a single bullet and become Dictator of the United Socialist States of America. Mark my words.
Report Post »The Divided States of America
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:55pmGod won’t let our troops leave the middle east, we are there to protect Israel !!!
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:03pmThe United States hasn’t won a war since World War II.
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:06pmThe Divided States of America, this is the best way to protect Israel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EywYDhPeY8
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:13pmThe God Father of Terrorism Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti gleams from his grave that Hussein Jr takes courage to unbelievable heights.
Report Post »thclad
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:19pmGet rid of Israel, get rid of our problems.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:24pm@divided – followers of Christ subtracts WE from the equation. God protects Israel until He deems necessary. WE are to have faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. When WE truly have Faith in Him, WE will be directed through the Holy Spirit. Therefore WE is reduced to I. Where is my faith. Not all people of Israel will be saved. Question any man who says who and where to stand when they themselves are not followers of the Gospel.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:24pmMassoud Barzani has a problem. Too bad the US Military follows the direct orders of our duly elected President and Commander In Chief, instead of some Kurdish tribal elders. I wonder if the neocons listened to Barzani and friends on the way IN to Iraq!
TEA
The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:30pmYou do know WHY he is doing this don’t you? He is planning on suspending Posse Comitatus and using the troops here to put down riots.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:54pmThe Iranians are waiting patiently until we leave Iraq, then they will start their march to “drive Israel into the sea” on their way to destroy the great satan, the United States. These are the words of the Iranians themselves. Bring the boys home and lets get ready to defend the mother country from muslims and sharia law. Watch baracks behavior when it come to Israel, he is pro palastinian.
Report Post »altarnet
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:56pmThe Israel question is HUGE!!! This full US withdrawal from Iraq sets up a huge power vacuum that Turkey, Iran, the Muslim Brotherhood and Marxist socialists will do all they can to exploit – at the expense of Israel and ultimately the USA!
Report Post »bioengineer
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 12:38am2 Kings 2:23-24
23 And he went up from thence unto Beth-el: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:53pmOnce we leave, the Kurds will be in big trouble.
Report Post »db321
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:01amSo would Israel and America – Obama would come out all right – he would then be able to proclaim himself emperor or whatever narcissistic title he chooses.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:49pmIf he’s going to drop it to 3,000 he should get them all out. I would rather have zero than a token force that is endangered by a lack of recources. Obama, if you let Iraq fall apart now, all the men and women who died or were maimed there, did it for absolutely nothing. You owe it to them to ensure they didn’t fight and die in vain!
Report Post »Blessed 2 B American
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:39pmA Vietnam Veteran Class of 1967 – 1968… 14 months in country.
Report Post »WE have the names of over 58,000 of my Brothers and Sisters on “The Black Wall on the Mall”.
All died in VAIN for NOTHING!
Those of us who returned were truly Blessed!
MONICNE
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:49pm@ Blessed 2 B American:
Well said, I could never have said it better. How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?
Thank you for your service.
TEA
Blackhawk1
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:52pmMONICNE
I think you missed the point of Blessed comment. When we went to Vietnam we had a clear mission. The Liberals when they took over chose to Politicize the war and tied the hands of the soldiers. If you go in you must go in to win. War is not politically correct. Obama like so many other liberals hate the military and want to use them for his own political gain even if costs lives.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 4:00pmBLACKHAWK…MONACNE’s just a bomb hurler. Don’t take anything the idiot says seriously. I particularly like the “thanks for your service” platitude. MONACNE was one of the same leftists in this country accusing our troops of intentionally targeting civilians..Whisky Pete..ad nauseum. Knowing that the American left despises the American military with zeal, MONACNE’s platitudes carry a distinctly vulgar aspect to them. It’s part fof the way the professional left tries to ingratiate itself onto the public. Appear to be benign..even patriotic if you have to..but work behind the scenes to undermine everything that goes against the left’s agenda..including the U.S .military.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 4:04pmI’m sorry Blackhawk One, when you mentioned Obama, did you actually mean Cheney and Wolfowitz? Just sayin.
They claimed Iraq was “obviously a clear 6 month in-n-out mission,” as I recall, when we invaded Iraq with, (as Rumsfeld said) “the Army we have, not the Army we want.”
Before we strike out when we plan a preemptive strike (Our Initiative), shouldn’t we arm and train the military that we want, the military that will be most effective in executing the war AND the aftermath?
And when we Choose to go to War, what would be so wrong about PAYING for it, kind of pay-go? And maybe drafting say, 1,000 random citizens a year to serve overseas?
TEA
MONICNE
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 4:07pmAvenGerk,
I was hurling the White Phosphorus myself. Five Inch and Six Inch. Damn straight, worth every round. Saving American lives put in danger, many by the Draft as I recall.
Smoke on the Water. TEA
Blackhawk1
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 5:11pmMONICNE
I’m sorry Blackhawk One, when you mentioned Obama, did you actually mean Cheney and Wolfowitz? Just sayin.
Where do you liberals come up with this stuff? How does Cheney Hate the Military? Was it when he was Secretary of Defense? During this time, Cheney oversaw the 1991 Operation Desert Storm. Which by the way was a huge success. If George H W Bush hadn‘t caved to the Liberals pressure not to go after Saddam during desert Storm we wouldn’t have had to go back years later.
Report Post »kraphtsman
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 6:35pmLet’s just see how this “Commander-In-Chief” Obama handles the situation. If he’s half as smart as his supporters believe, he’ll heed what his military leaders on the ground have to say before making any decision regarding U.S. troop levels in Iraq.
On the other hand, if he really ISN’T that smart after all, he’ll place more weight on what his political advisers and party “leadership” thinks will help his re-election.
I’m not a gambling man, but I’d put my money on the latter.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:47pmThey can take that oil money they got from the Chinese (instead of giving us the oil) and buy an army.
Report Post »Either that, or put together your own Kurdish army, using your OWN damn civilians to die for your OWN cause. Our time there is done. If you people want to keep fighting, have at it, but we are gone.
PATTY HENRY
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:47pmObama is NOT on our side. BRING THEM all home or do it right. HE is not our friend or the friend of democracy. It is coming out more and more. GO BIG OR GO HOME? he doesn’t even know what that means. Liar, Traitor. INEPT idiot. HE is like all his low-life-low-class bully buddies… Think about the parade of horrible character traits exhibited by every person near OBAMA: From Wright to Hoffa, from Immelt to Sunstein…it goes on and on.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:46pmOne word, Vietnam.
Report Post »It is, and always has been, a no win situation.
No matter when we leave the region, it will be the same as it was before we went there, or worse.
God help the Kurds and bring our people home!
Vechorik
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:01pmAmen! I sent the Kurds money 13 years ago.
Only open minds will click the link, but it’s very informative to see what Ron Paul told them about Iraq in 2007. Words for any date in time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EywYDhPeY8
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:46pmWant to see the other side of the story? Iraqi people SPEAK!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzIPSGhooP4&feature=fvst
Report Post »db321
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:06amI knew there was something different about Ron Paul – he is an Iraqi.
Report Post »Nevermind
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:42pmWho cares what the Kurd’s have to say, if they want to prevent a civil war then they better get an army. We went there for WMD’s and didnt find them , time to go. We cant afford it and shoudlnt lose american lives to prevent their civil war.
Besides , I know the BArzani’s and they arent very honest nor are their intentions pure. I did some financial work for Farhad Barzani ( been to his $3M home as well as his unmarked office on 18th and M in DC) and can asusre you that all they care about is $$. Which is why they send wire transers fo cash from around $50K -$100K evey couple of weeks to each other, and that $$ was for reconstruction. I have seeen his bank statements and know his real motive.
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:55pmI AGREE We screwed up going there, we screwed up once we were there, and were screwing up still being there. (I am for our military).
We also should not be handing anybody cash anywhere !!!
Report Post »Stop this foolish waste of OUR money.
smokegray
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:42pmwell seeing how we are PROVIDING them with a service.why are they not compensating us for our service..we still have record gas prices and we get the fuel from them don’t we? so if we are providing them with our service they should be compensating us with cheaper fuel or monetary payments. and as long as they pay their bill we should stay to boost our economy.
Report Post »Bill from NJ
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:41pmobama incompetence shows again, this idiot is in way over his head.
Report Post »socialist/marksist POS…
Shasta
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:15pmAll OBummer’s decisions and policies are politcal in nature. The notion of doing what is right for this country and it’s citizens is never on his mind.
Report Post »Bernard
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:40pmAs long as the “Seven rules of engagement” and the “zero collateral damage” regulations strap our troops from waging a war with the aim for victory then it is preferable to pull them out, because these regulations only ends up slaughtering our troops.
Report Post »LinkedIn G
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:07pmIt’s like military gun control … Then only the outlaws disobey the laws …
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:38pmNoBama only cares about being re-elected and at what expense… he doesn’t care about the fallout and additional killings that would ensue.. about all the Americans that gave their lives to provide a “free” country that would fall into chaos and negate any advances made. It’s all about NoBama. Every decision he will make between now and Nov 2012 will have only one purpose…his re-election. You, and the USA, and current world situations are moot.
NoBama 2012
Report Post »babylonvi
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:37pmSilly people, BHO has been ordered by the globalists to hand Iraq over to Iran now. He is only following orders.
Report Post »heyjim55
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:48pmYou are correct not many people here realize that our Government mainly the President is only the front man. That is why you see a bad economy getting worse he has no intentions of improving things because he has been instructed not to. Just stall for time and continue to sign executive orders to destroy the country.
Report Post »LinkedIn G
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:11pmAnd out of the ashes … the mighty socialist phoenix will rise. We aren’t gonna let that happen though.
Report Post »I SPY
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:36pmBomb Iran.
Report Post »Texas Sheepdog
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:36pmOf course! Obama won’t bring them ALL home, out of Harm’s Way, and even when the Iraqis request it, he won‘t leave a strong force that can hold it’s own – but he WILL leave a small enough contingent that it can be outgunned and vulnerable.
Report Post »There’s word for his actions, and it starts with a Tr…
Evil_Conservative
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:42pmYup. sounds like aid and comfort to the enemy to me.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:37pmExactly. If he leaves a small number of our military and they are vulnerable, I think I have an historical word to describe such a military move : “Nuts.” ( Guess this is what happens when the military is being led by a community organizer. )
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 3:59pmReminds me of what Clinton did in Somalia. Pull out 10,000 Marines (Providing Humanitarian Aid) and put in 600 Soldiers. Clinton and Obama are prime examples of why we should never allow people that didn’t serve in the Military be in charge of it.
Report Post »hi
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:34pmWe’ll stay if you foot the bill!
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:51pmHow much is an American life worth?
Report Post »Will it make a difference in the region?
I’ll answer that one for you. HECK NO!!!
db321
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:14amThe Rational Man – proves he is not a rational thinker – US pulls out – Islamic Spring moves in – Israel and US are gone – Wiped Out – Ca-put – History – Let me answer your question for you – it will cost your irrational life and everyone else around you.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:34pmMr Obama you declared already last year that all troops were out of Iraq when you left some behind, and now you want to withdraw the troops and still leave some behind…just pull them all out already and bring them home.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 2:27pmI fully support the TEA party peace effort and admire their defense budget reduction efforts.
TEA
Vechorik
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 4:52pmMONICNE, I’m glad trolls, such as yourself, visit the Blaze. Words of wisdom can come from your cynicism. Thanks!
Report Post »gmoneytx
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:32pmObutt-nugget has to do something to boost his sorry ass ratings, this will be a two-fer.
Hopefully Americans are not stupid enough to buy it, I certainly won’t. If he’s re-elected because of stunts like this for political gain then we deserve 4 mo‘ years of his and his fat ass wife’s crap!
Report Post »MBA
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:31pmIt’s all about his campaign not about the troops. I am so sorry for the military having to tolerate this incompetent and self absorbed b**b.
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:31pmAnd let them HIRE us to stay on their dole.
NoBama 2012
Report Post »wewantchillywilly
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:29pmtalk about campaign mode…
Report Post »NHABE64
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:27pmHa! Ha! Obama is so funny. He is absolutely desperate now and its only NOW he wants to withdraw our troops to get more votes and a higher approval rating ? Ha! And he tallks about the GOP putting country ahead of politics. What a piece of work this fraud is, puke, gag, vomit! Obama, your finished!
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:26pmPanetta is not Secretary of Defense — he is Secretary of the Only Cuts Obumbler Wants to Make
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:24pmThe eyes of a liar.
Report Post »Texas Sheepdog
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:38pmYou know, those eyes look familiar… think I remember them looking out of a black ski mask… or was it a red-and-white checked rag…?
Report Post »Evil_Conservative
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 1:41pmI thought it was a Jihadi for a second.
Report Post »