Politics

Obama Announces Complete Drawdown of U.S. Troops in Iraq by Year’s End

This story has been updated.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Friday declared an end to the Iraq war, one of the longest and most divisive conflicts in U.S. history, announcing that all American troops would be withdrawn from the country by year’s end.

Obama’s statement put an end to months of wrangling over whether the U.S. would maintain a force in Iraq beyond 2011. He never mentioned the tense and ultimately fruitless negotiations with Iraq over whether to keep several thousand U.S. forces in Iraq as a training force and a hedge against meddling from Iran or other outside forces.

Instead, Obama spoke of a promise kept, a new day for a self-reliant Iraq and a focus on building up the economy at home.

“I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year,” Obama said. “After nearly nine years, America’s war in Iraq will be over.”

Obama spoke after a private video conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and he offered assurances that the two leaders agreed on the decision.

The U.S. military presence in Iraq stands at just under 40,000. All U.S. troops are to exit the country in accordance with a deal struck between the countries in 2008 when George W. Bush was president.

Obama, an opponent of the war from the start, took office and accelerated the end of the conflict. In August 2010, he declared the U.S. combat mission over.

“Over the next two months our troops in Iraq, tens of thousands of them, will pack up their gear and board convoys for the journey home,” Obama said. “The last American soldier will cross the border out of Iraq with their heads held high, proud of their success and knowing that the American people stand united in our support for our troops.”

More than 4,400 American military members have been killed since the U.S. and its allies invaded Iraq in March 2003.

Two U.S. officials had told The Associated Press last week that the United States would not keep troops in Iraq past the year-end withdrawal deadline, except for some soldiers attached to the U.S. Embassy.

Obama to Announce Complete Drawdown of U.S. Troops in Iraq By Years End

President Barack Obama speaks in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Oct. 21, 2011, where he declared an end to the Iraq war, one of the longest and most divisive conflicts in U.S. history, announcing that all U.S. troops would be withdrawn from the country by year's end. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

In recent months, Washington had been discussing with Iraqi leaders the possibility of several thousand American troops remaining to continue training Iraqi security forces.

Throughout the discussions, Iraqi leaders refused to give U.S. troops immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts, and the Americans refused to stay without that guarantee.

Moreover, Iraq’s leadership has been split on whether it wanted American forces to stay.

When the 2008 agreement requiring all U.S. forces to leave Iraq was passed, many U.S. officials assumed it would inevitably be renegotiated so that Americans could stay longer.

The U.S. said repeatedly this year it would entertain an offer from the Iraqis to have a small force stay behind, and the Iraqis said they would like American military help. But as the year wore on and the number of American troops that Washington was suggesting could stay behind dropped, it became increasingly clear that a U.S. troop presence was not a sure thing.

The issue of legal protection for the Americans was the deal-breaker.

Pulling troops out by the end of this year allows both al-Maliki and Obama to claim victory.

Obama kept a campaign promise to end the war, and al-Maliki will have ended the American presence and restored Iraqi sovereignty.

The president used the war statement to once again turn attention back to the economy, the domestic concern that is expected to determine whether he wins re-election next year.

“After a decade of war the nation that we need to build and the nation that we will build is our own, an America that sees its economic strength restored just as we’ve restored our leadership around the globe.”

This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

Comments (402)

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  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:59pm

    Then we might as well never have gone there at all, all the good that was done will probably crumble. He can then say Bush was wrong. What a disgusting human being, he’ll abandon them so the muslim brotherhood can come in. Sure can tell whose side he is on. He is no Christian, took me a long time to come to that, didn’t want to believe such a traitor was elected, but so many were fooled. I didn’t vote for him, but I didn’t have as negative an opinion as I do now of this man. I wish he could be tried for treason, but he is more slippery than tricky Dick ever was. At least Nixon was 100% American.

    Report Post »  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:10pm

      we never should have went anywhere unless it was approved by congress and a war was declared…

      3 years later…
      It Promised All of America that the First Thing it will do when it’s in office is Bring the Troops Home. and we can take That to the bank, it said… it also got involved in 4 more conflicts against the will of Congress (The People) and never once attempted to withdrawl our troops from Iraq.

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    • jb.kibs
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:18pm

      yeah i’m glad we traded 4400+ Troops because we lost 3000 citizens… seems like a fair loss …
      not to mention all the money we had to pay for the ground 0, the other countries to rebuild and military operation cost… really… was it worth it?

      * Probably the most true statement you will ever read is as follows…
      Royalty use Gold, Gentlemen use Silver, The Poor use Copper, Slaves use Fiat, Greedy Slaves use Digital Fiat.

      Report Post »  
    • VerySeniorCitizen
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:18pm

      Well, JENNY LIND, we should never have gone into Iraq in the first place!!!!! Nobody in Iraq, including Saddam Huesein had anything to do with 9/11. We have spent almost $Trillion alrady for the Iraq project – which does NOT include the cost of caring for our vetrans who have come home without faces, limbs – or in boxes. We have allowed fraud to go uninterrupted ($9Billion – in cash – on a pallet went missing in either 2004 or 2005 and nobody cared). The contractors (cost-PLUS) allowed pure thievery from we – the taxpayers. Roads.hospitals, water repositories were built – and never used. Shall I go on? In the meanwhile our own roads, beidges and schools are crumbling and heaven forbid we should fix them because that would pull money AWAY from the Military Industrial Complex/ Whose side are you on??

      Report Post »  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:23pm

      First and foremost, this lowlife degenerate is a liar. So we can’t believe a word that come out of his fly-attracting pie-hole !!!! I have proof 10 times over that he is a LIAR, If anyone wants to cry ‘defamation’ lol. Clowns !!!
      Secondly, anyone with any intellect, and an I.Q. over 50, can see this is a Political Ploy to bump his poll numbers up, for the upcoming Race.

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • PoliticalJunkieToo
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:29pm

      We should NEVER have been in Iraq.

      We shroud NEVER be in Libya

      We should NEVER be in Africa

      We should NEVER be in Afghanistan

      We should NEVER be in Pakistan

      Report Post »  
    • The10thAmendment
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:31pm

      Never should have been there, and this is the only smart decision this clown has done since taking office.

      Report Post » The10thAmendment  
    • IHGB
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:31pm

      Before you give Bush credit for the withdraw: 2007: Obama’s final vote for troop funding (Vote 147, April 26) was for an emergency supplemental appropriation that also included a call for withdrawal from Iraq. Obama issued a news release at the time, saying: “We must fund our troops. But we owe them something more. … With my vote today, I am saying to the President that enough is enough.” The measure passed 51 to 46 and was vetoed.

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    • VerySeniorCitizen
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:32pm

      JB.KIBBS I think you have forgotten that we pulled MOST of the troops out of Iraq in 2010. Thr President left only about 30 thousand as training support and suggested last year that he wanted to follow the Bush agreement to pull the rest ofthem out by the end of 2011. Then Iraq requested that we leave some extra troops past that deadline, however that, too, has changed and Bush’s timeline WILL be honored!

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    • dogpatch65
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:33pm

      Jerry, he’s just making the Arab World safe for Caliphate:
      http://markamerica.com/2011/10/21/barack-obama-mission-accomplished/

      Report Post »  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:34pm

      What Obama fails to report is why SOME military troops WILL remain, therefore not all Iraq US military troops will be home for Christmas.

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:47pm

      @Jenny Lind
      I listened to Hannity in the summer of 2007 and never had a doubt as to who this man was. I tried to tell everyone who would listen to me. I even alienated one of my sisters who would not listen to me. I sure as hell didn’t vote for him and hated the way McLame was pushed on us. I am trying to do more this time around so we don’t get another McLame and so that Oblamus packs and leaves.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • The Giver
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:50pm

      He’s getting out of this one … he says, but the end of the year is still 2.5 mo. away. I’ll believe it when I see it. He wants contributions from donors. In the meantime, he’s getting us involved in other conflicts. HE HAS TO BE A ONE TERM PRESIDENT. His Oct surprise next year will be Hillary. VOTE PAUL/ CAIN 2012!

      Report Post » The Giver  
    • The10thAmendment
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:54pm

      The only issue with pulling out of Iraq is that Obama’s Muslim Brotherhood from Iran will be setting up caliphate there.

      Report Post » The10thAmendment  
    • Jezreel
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:59pm

      Why and how were your fooled? Didn’t you do research? I can’t understand how incredibly blind people are. Just his name having Hussein in it should have been the easy tip off. Come on!! I was amazed that people were stupid enough to vote for somebody who did not give complete details of how he was going to “change” the country. People should be able to look into a person’s eyes to tell if they are lying. Just the fact that he sat in the church for 20 years that was Anti American is a reflection of what he is. A person that loved the U.S would not be able to stay in a place like that. Come on stupid people! Romney and Rick Perry are just as bad . They are both counterfeits. Everything good that they are reflecting is also a lie. The only two men that are credible is Ron Paul and possibly Herman Cain.

      Report Post »  
    • Joseph in Fishers
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:02pm

      Bush was wrong in Nation Building- right in Kicking Ass- wrong in occupation. Colin Powell was wrong too-”If you break, you have to fix it”. Nope, not at all. Bush ignored the constitution, and most of all Washington’s advice in his Farewell Address. This is the first thing that Obama got it right, but of course, for the wrong reason.

      Report Post » Joseph in Fishers  
    • Pujols
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:10pm

      Why? because of the election coming up or so Iran can have it? or both???

      Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:20pm

      As Bon Dylan says;sometimes we push too far. You right wingers were all over the media demanding the right to murder iraqis with impunity. You made a point to publicaly show your genocidal contempt for muslim /arabs and like good nazis asserted a right to murder your targets. Because iraqis are men[and women] ,not mice they refused to subordinate their rights to satisfy your nazi ideology [that you are entitled to be free to tyranize and murder iraqis] Hence you’re leaving. They won-you lost . long live the arab uprisings and the iraqis who resisted your thuggery from the start!.

       
    • Alvin691
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:23pm

      The troops are in the way of their caliphate

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:24pm

      VerySeniorCitizen

      1. Salman Pak was a terrorist training camp sponsored by Iraq.
      2. Saddam provided funding for Palestinian terrorists.
      3. Saddam directed his military to shoot at our airmen enforcing the no fly zone. That in itself is a casus beli.
      4. I saw too many news reports (live film) of U.N. inspectors being held up while trying to inspect a site. This also broke agreements. Hold up an inspection team for several hours or a few days of course they will find nothing.
      5. The Military/Industrial Complex quote that you throw about like a trump card is very curious. Eisenhower also warned on the Academia/government connection in the same sentence. Very partisan of you to not mention it.

      Report Post »  
    • sWampy
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:27pm

      Sad day for freedom, another war lost by liberals. It’s a very good for terrorism.

      Report Post »  
    • nmslimusa
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:27pm

      Mesopatamia and Persia have never been hotbeds of democracy.There will most likely be a civil war within 3-6 months,and Iran will take sides and swoop in to take over.What will our Glorious Leader do then?

      Report Post »  
    • daniwcca
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:29pm

      It WAS approved by Congress.

      Report Post »  
    • True American66
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:35pm

      Hey Rose-Ellen
      Don’t think for one second that the Arab world has won anything. The second they step out of line again in an attempt to subvert FREEDOM, we will be there crushing them like bugs….Obama or NO Obama…and you can take that to the bank!

      Report Post »  
    • redfish83
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:36pm

      @jb kibs…….Thats the truest statement I’ve heard in a while

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:37pm

      PoliticalJunkieToo

      We should never been in Afghanistan? We asked the Taliban to extradite Usama to the U.S.A. to stand trial. They refused.

      What is your answer to 911 7 the Taliban refusal to extradite Usama? Oh shucks darn it all?

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:40pm

      Joseph in Fishers
      “Colin Powell was wrong too-”If you break, you have to fix it”.” You have a valid arguing point, a very valid one.

      But do you think if we had gone into Afghanistan destroyed the Taliban & left that that would have gone over well?

      IMHO all the usual suspects would be out for U.S. blood for war crimes.

      Report Post »  
    • Ex-Democrat
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:41pm

      @JB.KIBS — Bush did get approval from Congress for military action in both Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s Obama who did not get approval from Congress for both Libya and Uganda. Nor did Obama even attempt to seek approval from Congress. Obama acted in violation of U.S law; Bush did not violate U.S. law. You might want to check your facts before spouting off.

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    • Krazy Joe
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:47pm

      Well said, Jenny. Well said.

      The man is disgusting.

      And the brain dead people who say we had no business in Iraq will never cease to amaze me. Of course we did! We *HAD* to go to Iraq. All the evidence said Saadam had Weapons of Mass Destruction. And anyone who thinks he didn’t is fooling themselves. He did. We delayed and delayed and delayed in going in there all the while he was keeping out weapons inspectors. Is anyone actually naive enough (or dumb enough) to think he didn’t have them? He clearly moved them out of Iraq while we were twiddling our thumbs waiting.

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    • HellPhish89
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:51pm

      @Kibs: by that logic… 400k for ~2000 was worthless as well..

      Report Post »  
    • mils
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:56pm

      IT DOES NOT MATTER if we should or should not have gone to Iraq…we did…live now in the moment…
      It was a failure. We lost troops, standing, money
      DO NOT BE FOOLED BY OBAMA…HES‘ NOT bringing he troops home because he’s such a good guy…he’s up to somehting, beware.

      Also, it could be quite the Smoke screen for the chunk of American money going to Finland for that electric car, which uses carbon fuel (electric), and costs..what $80,000??? yeah, we’re all gonna run out and buy that little trinket.

      I think these things are announced in his favor to keep our minds off the crap he’s up to

      Also, he’ll either send them to one of his hot spots..Uganda???, or to quell the riots that are going to happen when we all wake up. HE’S UP TO NO GOOD…:)

      Report Post »  
    • huckleberry, 1 ea.
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:07pm

      So will our troops be replacing TSA once they’re home?? Search VIRP at Tennessee weigh stations.

      http://www.newschannel5.com/story/15725035/officials-claim-tennessee-becomes-first-state-to-deploy-vipr-statewide

      Report Post »  
    • netmail
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:25pm

      Obama lies like Muslims lie. Obama might be a wee bit milder as he only wants to collapse free market capitalism to transform America and a lot of Muslims want to kill us all. Since that is what they want, my preference is to kill them first, but that’s just me. Left to their own devices, I think the entire Middle East will ultimately be under the firm control of The Muslim Brotherhood. Moving out of the neighborhood due to a time table or political manuever will only serve to embolden them more and accelerate the advance of their cause. Tomorrow‘s headlines will be worse than today’s….and for how long? At least as long as Obama remains the so called “Leader of the free world” IMO.

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    • kryptonite
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:35pm

      First, I agree with others here that we can’t believe one word that liar says. He officially closed Gitmo, but it remains open. Second, the motive behind any of Hussein’s decisions is paramount, since he possesses a criminal mind. Unfortunately, every single decision that traitor makes up to Election Day 2012 will not have America’s interest at heart. He is exclusively focused on how to retain power.

      Consequently, I will not rejoice over this decision. Personally I believe this was the worst moment to make this announcement, considering Iran’s very recent threat to send ships near our waters. However, the traitor-in-chief has destabilized the ME by igniting the Islamist powder keg there. He has no intention of getting in their way to Islamize the region, including nuclear-powered Pakistan. Add to the list the now dangerously armed savage rebels in Libya. Our deadly babaric enemies no longer fear us, so bringing our troops home is probably the only safe option left. God help us.

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:39pm

      Rose-Ellen
      “You right wingers were all over the media demanding the right to murder iraqis with impunity”

      Kind of rich that you are talking on the internet when you should not go out in public spaces or forums with out a male family member to escort you.

      Maybe all your male relatives our away planning another car bomb attack on Iraqi citizens. The survivors of which will brought to American military hospitals.

      American soldiers were embedded with Iraqi units. You don’t eat, sleep & patrol with Iraqi soldiers & then say oh by the way we are going to murder innocent Iraqis.

      You keep lying like you do & you will spend eternity with Shaytan. In shallah.

      Report Post »  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 4:01pm

      About damn time. The Iraqis aren‘t going to maintain a ’democracy.’ And we all know that. Stop deluding yourself and bring our soldiers home.

      The problem with nation building is you have to know the other side actually “wants” to be “built.” Other wise they are just bleeding you of resources. Sound familiar?

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 4:14pm

      Let me get this straight ROSE-ELLEN…you supported the Iraqi insurgency? al Qaeda in Iraq and al Sadr’s Mahdi Army blowing up market places full of civilians, blowing up mosques, sending down-syndrome women into market places with bombs strapped to them, beheadings, kidnappings, butchery….you’re on their side? You’re sick lady.

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    • Susan Harkins
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 4:20pm

      OK Folks,

      You have to read between the lines on this move. This is a drawdown of resources on two fronts (the other front was Lybia and they went ahead and pulled the plug on resources expended by plugging Geraffi) for a shifting of chess pieces on the global gameboard.

      It is my opinion that the Bankster Elites are calling one of their cards in and requesting that the military be repositioned back in the country in order to deal with the soon collapse of the global financial system. This act by Obozo to pull the military home is an open admission by the Elites that we are on the very edge of a deflationary/depressionary collapse, on a scale never before seen in Human History. 1.4 Quadrillion in derrivatives is about to implode, utterly vaporizing every paper-backed investment vehicle (think pension funds, 401ks, social security checks, unemployment checks) within a blistering 36 hours time-frame.

      Obozo is mobilizing the troops, short and simple. Look for their redeployment at a town near you, quite soon now. You have been warned. :-)

      Report Post » Susan Harkins  
    • Biscuit Feed Bubba
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 5:31pm

      Be ready for Arab Spring 2012. Without the fear of a mobilized Army next door, Iran will have a field day along with Libya (Muslim Brotherhood), Egypt (Muslim Brotherhood), Palenstine (Muslim Brotherhood) and the USA (ALL the Muslim Brother’s from the Hood). I still stand with Israel!

      Report Post »  
    • We are Americans
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 5:35pm

      It’s about time.
      It’s as much a victory as your
      going to get.
      Thanks to all our brave soilders who
      did every job asked of them.
      Iran will be swooping in within a year.
      It’s time to get out.

      Report Post »  
    • survivorseed
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 5:35pm

      If Obama was a republican, he would be your hero jenny. He extended the bush tax cuts, he kicked out more illegals than bush ever did, he killed osama, he started more wars, he spread democracy through the arab world, he ousted dictators left, right and centre and now he’s finishing the war in iraq. If bush had that kind of resume, he would be called the best president who ever sat in the white house by blazers

      Report Post »  
    • Ballot_Box_Revolution
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 5:48pm

      Like you care Obama (although i think this is the right move)…..This is a desperate call for support, and votes….end of story….

      Report Post » Ballot_Box_Revolution  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 5:57pm

      Wow..SURVIVORSEED…that’s very impressive. Only let’s examine the details. Bin Laden was found due to the interrogations Bush authorized on KSM that led to being aware of Bin Laden’s courier..who eventually led us to Bin Laden. All Barry did was say “OK” when our intelligence people said they’ve got Bin Laden.
      The Iraq draw down in 2011 SURVIVORSEED? Well…Bush negotiated that in 2008 pending conditions on the ground and the Iraqi government. In fact it appears Obama may have bungled the negotiations with Iraq. So yes..blame Bush for that too.
      Libya? I wont’ sell our armed forces short but America got in at the insistance of France and the UK. Europe relies heavily on Libyan oil and with the EU on it’s knees right now..interrupting oil supplies wouldnt’ be smart for Europe would it? So Obama “led from behind”? And we still don’t know the make up of the rebels.
      Which leads us to your “Arab spring”. Not so fresh today is it? The army is still in charge in Egypt. Violence has now erupted agaisnt Christians there. The only organized group is the Muslim Brotherhood. That’s “spreading democracy” for you? “Ousting dictators left and right”? Obama did nothing against Mubarak and “led from behind” in Libya. Please….stop insulting everyone here with your paltry assertions, the most cursory examination shows Obama’s done nothing but either “ok” a no brainer or be late the to the party.

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    • Marine 1
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 5:58pm

      Every move is planned with Obama and he’s nothing but a puppet anyway. However, no war in Iraq or Afghanistan was ever – declared – by Congress. Therefore, the whole thing was bravo sierra. I’m thrilled that the troops are getting out of there and I personally hope the whole place goes to hell. We have wasted time and lives over there for nothing. We’re being invaded from Mexico and no one is doing a damn thing about it. The TSA is now setting up road operations in Tennessee and that scares me more than any freaking terrorist attack. Planes. roads — what’s next people? Do you have your papers comrade?

      Report Post »  
    • Ookspay
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 6:08pm

      I will give credit where credit is due, good job BO. Now stay out! And get out of the entire Mideast NOW! let the Shia kill the Sunni and Iran invade Iraq and saudi Arabia, let them all go crazy and resume the killing of each other that’s been going on for centuries. We can get rich selling them weapons and finally start drilling for our own oil.

      Report Post » Ookspay  
    • pavepaws
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 6:32pm

      They’ll be needed in Africa.

      Report Post »  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 6:59pm

      HOW about picking up a check for a couple of hundred Billion on your way out, duffus.

      Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
    • old white guy
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 7:32pm

      i wonder does he think more people are going to vote for him because he pulls the troops out???

      Report Post »  
    • ANTISOCIAL-IST
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:13pm

      jenny: this is part of the plan. if they want to become part of the caliphate it’s their choice. we can’t sit and babysit them forever. our forefathers were a bunch of farmers and look what they achieved. let everyone join sides so we know exactly who everyone is. can’t delay the inevitable forever.

      Report Post » ANTISOCIAL-IST  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on October 22, 2011 at 5:24am

      @Ookspay
      “And get out of the entire Mideast NOW! let the Shia kill the Sunni and Iran invade Iraq and saudi Arabia, We can get rich selling them weapons and finally start drilling for our own oil.”
      ———–
      You’ve been drinking too much Kool-Aid. Detox, pls. You think all we have to do is say “Shazam!” and suddenly we’re oil-independent? Get ready to ride your bike to work every day. It‘s comin’.

      Report Post »  
    • emerald54
      Posted on October 22, 2011 at 8:37am

      The timing of this fits in well as far as I`m concerned, things are starting to get nasty as far as the OCCUPY WALL STREET ……ya think maybe this will be when martial law will go into affect here in the U.S.???? Hate to think of it…………

      Report Post » emerald54  
  • DaveOregon
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:57pm

    The deadline was established in 2008 – before Obummer came into office – so he’s simply instigating that time withdrawl that was already set. Is this politics – could be – but if Iraq begins to spiral out of control – then it will look bad on Obummer. If not – he simple did what congress ratified. Besides – I think they have a lot of confidence now in drones – suicidal, Predator, Raptor, etec – and they can take “troublemakers” out with ok from Iraqi government with launching from Med or Persian Gulf and control the kill sitting in Iowa!

    Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:02pm

      And now the next questions to be answered are these…

      Will Iran install a puppet government from a internal supported revolution or coup?
      Will Iran instead decide to simply invade?

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • broker0101
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:02pm

      Show us proof that “Th(is) deadline was established in 2008″. Good luck with that.

      Report Post » broker0101  
    • spfoam1
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:15pm

      Who’s deadline are you talking about?

      Report Post »  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:21pm

      no kidding.. ‘I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am President, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank.’ – Obama

      Report Post »  
    • VerySeniorCitizen
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:25pm

      BROKER 0101 – Here’s is a link you might want to study. Bush DID set a timeline!

      Report Post »  
    • PoliticalJunkieToo
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:30pm

      broker0101
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:02pm

      Show us proof that “Th(is) deadline was established in 2008″. Good luck with that.
      _______
      Bush II and the Iraqi’s had a pull out agreement in place BEFORE Bush left office.

      Report Post »  
    • VerySeniorCitizen
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:35pm

      BROKER – the link didn’t load. Here it is http://usiraq.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=1301

      Report Post »  
    • broker0101
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:38pm

      POLITIC, Again, show us the proof of the 2008 plan of a December 2011 pullout date. Again, good luck with that.

      Report Post » broker0101  
    • broker0101
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:46pm

      SENIOR, Thanks. I had never heard of the 2008 SOFA before just now. Thanks for the information.
      Now, back to Obama’s lies, Here’s the video.:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr9ywEFRQkQ

      Report Post » broker0101  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:54pm

      “The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) agreement signed in December 2008 was not the final word.

      It all depends on public opinion & politics. The plan was to get the initial SOFA with Iraq & use the next 3 years to negotiate another one. We would have liked to have kept some troops there to maintain our gains (a friendly, democratic government).

      A SOFA does not mean anything to the left. We have SOFA agreements with Britain, Germany, Japan & many other countries. And yet the left accuses of occupying Japan & Germany. LIARS! We are not lording it over those countries. If Germany or Japan would not renew the SOFAs we would leave. Just like we left the Phillipines.

      We use them to protect out service personnel. Some countries do not have the same level of jurisprudence that we have. American soldiers have been sent to foreign prisons & the American military was good with that. They are embarrassed & chagrined that an American soldier committed a crime, but they go along with & say good riddance as well.

      What we don’t want is an American soldier going to jail because of collateral damage. That is why a new agreement was not reached. Form that standpoint & only that standpoint I support Obama’s decision to withdraw the troops.

      I hope this clears it up for the rabid left.

      Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:03pm

      They won the fact that you’re not staying there getting immunity. Instead you’re getting out of their country.The demand of right wing american thugs was rejected and hence you’re pulling out. Just what the iraqi resistance fought for has now been acomplished through negotiations.You caved.It’s not so easy to control the world-even for 21stc powerful amerkican nazis politicians and their media.And obama’s a shoe in to be relelected. All you have now is fear mongering about boogey men[iran and muslim brotherhood take overs of the world].Reality trumps propaganda in the 21stc-of the people all people. Long live the arab uprisings against all dictators.If it unsettles you right wingers -that too is a good thing.The left is rising here while you’re unsettled about dictators toppling.

      Report Post »  
    • mils
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:58pm

      yep, Iran will now merely walk into Iraq and take over. Over, done, finished.. Sharia for everyone!!!

      Report Post »  
    • LastAmerican
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 4:19pm

      Hey rose ellen, Pretty soon Israel is going to SPANK the f out of your beloved homeland.

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 4:21pm

      Iraqi resistance ROSE-ELLEN? You mean those sociopaths who blew up market places full of civlians, blew up mosques, beheadings, kidnappings, strapped explosive vests to down-syndrom women and sent them into market places. Like the ones who beheaded Daniel Pearl and hung the burnt corpses of helicopter pilots off bridges while their children used the bodies for pinatas? You support these animals ROSE-ELLEN? Seriously? You‘re a nauseating little piece of filth aren’t you sweetie?

      Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 5:10pm

      If you invade a country with 21stc weapons that they lack,and they don’t like being invaded and occupied,then they will resist you by hook and by crook. it is self serving and easy to show righteous indignation when you have the upper hand militarily. Typical thin skinned hypocrites-how dare they fight back when they saw our mighty weapons! It’s called war- and you invaded them.[and you hypocrites spent the whole 20th c and now 10 yrs of this one murdering men women and children in foreign lands!].Your fall back position about; how- dare- they– kill us- so- sneakily- and viciously – is a cover for your expectation that you should act in the world with impunityMight makes right is your ethos or more accurately -we have the right to attack you but you don’t have the right to fight back.When they do-the same old same old mantra about this enemy is more vicious in their warring then anyone else [especially us].Said now and said in viet nam and all other wars where you met ioth resistence to your agression..

      Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 5:24pm

      I don’t support their targeting and killing civilians. i do support an insurgency against invadors.And as the americans say about all the civilians that die as a result of their invasions and occupations[and their practices of dropping bombs on villages, cities and towns when deemed in their interests or just for the revenge of it-Aw shucks-war is hell!].When you drop bombs on populated cities-you are targeting civilians .And when you can’t tell the civilians from the combatants and drop bombs or shoot anyway, you are targeting civilians.And collabotators get killed in wars. Always have and always will. Hypocrites!I don’t believe the ends justify the means but americans believe that as their bombing of cities in war makes clear. So do iraqis apparently.

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 6:09pm

      Poor ROSE-ELLEN…your incoherent drivel only betrays that befuddled, hopelessly indoctrinated thing you call a mind. It’s spelled “invaders” by the way sweetie. English is not your first language?
      More to the point sweetie…The insurgents in Iraq targeted fellow Iraqis in market places, mosques, and their homes. Al Zarquawi (al Qaeda in Iraq) launched a concentrated campaign to foment hostility between Shias and Sunnis. Cleric al Sadr added to that milieu with his Mahdi army. They were killing more Iraqis than anything you imagine was done by the U.S. Nay…they STILL ARE KILLING IRAQIS. Your problem ROSE-ELLEN is that you can’t hide the truth. The insurgency in Iraq consciously targeted civlians as part of their campaign and is responsible for far more deaths than the military operations. You vile little woman….you support these animals? These same animals that record a man’s beheading and post it on the internet? That hung burned corpses from bridges and have children poke sticks into them? You wretched, disgusting little woman. Come on ROSE-ELLEN come closer..I want to vomit on you.

      Report Post »  
    • Vechorik
      Posted on October 23, 2011 at 7:52am

      Words from speech by Martain L. King
      “God says to America, you are too arrogant. If you don’t change your ways, I will rise up and break the backbone of your power and I will place it in the hands of a nation that doesn’t even know my name. Be still and know that I am God.”

      America has been in 12 wars in 10 years.
      We’ve bombed 6 countries
      We’ve won no war since WWII

      John F. Kennedy said — We are 6% of the world population and shouldn’t impose our will on the 94% of the world.

      Report Post »  
  • Countrygirl1362
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:54pm

    How many times can he withdraw all the troops from Iraq? Did he not celebrate over a year ago after all the troops were withdrawn from Iraq?

    Report Post »  
    • TexasHunter
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:50pm

      We will always have a Military base in Iraq. We will never fully pull out due to political gain and influence. He may say that the troops are coming home again. That maybe the case for most but not for all.

      TEA

      Report Post » TexasHunter  
    • Bill in Texas
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:31pm

      I tend to believe it this time. I‘m glad because we can’t have our troops operating anywhere without a Status Of Forces Agreement that spells out any crimes us troops are accused of will be tried under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice in a US Military court. Not in a politically charged local court!

      Thank you to all of my brothers and sisters in uniform that served there and everywhere else! You are what makes the US great. You are the best of us all! Thank you!

      Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 4:03pm

      Though saddam may have been a brutal dictator-that he supported the palestinians was a good thing. if he tried shooting down planes that is because you had no business imposing a no-fly zone to begin with. His incursion into kuwait was egged on by the americans;[kuwait was slant drilling their oil and would result in the iraqis' econmy collapsing and alot of iraqis suffering for the sake of american/kuwaiti wealth].The only thing better then this annoucement of american capitulation [no immunity for american war crimes would be granted by the iraqis hence withdrawal] would be to see some americans tried for crimes against the iraqis before the american withdrawal.Oh well -maybe one day!Thank you noble resistance fighters for not making it easy for these american terrorist invadors.

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 4:29pm

      ROSE-ELLEN…You’re actually thanking the butchers that beheaded Daniel Pearl? That hung the burnt corpses of helicopter pilots from bridges while children poked them with sticks? That strapped explosive vests to down-syndrome women and sent them into market places? That blew up mosques and markets full of civlians in a campaign to set Sunni against Shai? You recall that a no fly zone was set up to protect the Kurds in the north who Saddam was gassing and killing ROSE-ELLEN? Come closer ROSE-ELLEN I want to throw up on you.

      Report Post »  
  • kentuckypatriot
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:54pm

    My only comment is I’m glad they are coming home, my hope is the military will protect US from all enemies both foreign and domestic, most likely domestic.

    Report Post » kentuckypatriot  
    • rfycom
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:02pm

      add my ex wife

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:02pm

      Amen!

      TEA!

      Report Post »  
    • Infidel49
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:06pm

      You want to protect yourself, get obama out of the WhiteHouse.

      Report Post » Infidel49  
    • rockstone
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:10pm

      He’s bringing them home to fight domestic. Want to see “domestic”?
      Take a look at any pictures of the Tea Party rally’s

      Report Post » rockstone  
    • kentuckypatriot
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:31pm

      @ ROCKSTONE:
      Are you implying the Tea Party is a terroristic threat? Prove it if you are.

      Report Post » kentuckypatriot  
    • let us prey
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:06pm

      rockstone
      You are a fecal agitator.

      Report Post » let us prey  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 5:35pm

      Daniel Pearl[may he rest in peace] went there to fan the flames of war mongers. Beheading him was a horrendous crime and atrocity . When a military superpower invades a country that has no comparable resistence capabiliy yes-terrorism will result. Always has and always will. And one mans terrorist is another’s freedom fighter. And they see our military invasion as terrorism[arms and legs and heads get blown off of men women and children everyday with our drones and other sophisticated weapons].Your one sided thin skinn ed-you can dish it out with bombs falling from the sky on men women and children-but how dare they fight back ?Your self serving false narrative doesn’t wash with the people you have terrorised..They might be backwards in their penal codes and religious fanaticism but they ain’t stupid.

      Report Post »  
  • MotoMofo
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:53pm

    http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/4986/mrsoros.jpg

    Report Post » MotoMofo  
  • Rawtheran
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:52pm

    I suported Bush for going to Iraq, and now that we have done or job we should pull out. I do think though that we should leave a contigent there so we have a millitary presence in the Middle East.

    Report Post » Rawtheran  
    • HUNITHUNIT
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:03pm

      Not if they refuse to give them immunity.

      Report Post »  
    • PoliticalJunkieToo
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:33pm

      Bush’s REASONS for going into Iraq turned out to be BOGUS.

      Bush DESTROYED the Iraq army which is NOW DEFENSELESS against a much more powerful and radicalized Islam IRAN which HATES Iraq and will INVADE Iraq now that BUSH neutered Iraq’s military defenses.
      Iran WILL defeat Iraq and TAKE Iraq’s OIL FIELDS for their own giving Iran unlimited money to spread terrorism all over the world – EVEN THE USA.

      Report Post »  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:45pm

      I disagree with the small contingent concept. It didn’t work in Viet Nam. No one talks about the American advisors left behind in 1975. Why would I want a small contingent in a country with a religion dedicated to their death. The contingent is expendable if the muslims decide to roll over them. I know we will be back in the Middle East but at this point in time, Americans have not truly lived on a war footing. We did what Bush wanted and went about our lives after 9/11. Sure we thank the military for their service (a post-Viet Nam lesson). But unless your child is in the service, most folks are just not concerned. Sure my neighbors ask me when Mike is coming home and how he is doing, but they have no skin in the game.

      Ranting again. Sorry

      Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
    • HADEN0UGH
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:14pm

      You really think the US will allow Iran to come in and take over Iraq? It’s a possibility if they do it before the 2012 election. I think it is a setup – pull out, let Iran start to invade, and then destroy that craphole of a country.

      Report Post » HADEN0UGH  
  • FLyoverman
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:52pm

    South Vietnam 2011. “Never have a Democrat on your flank.”

    Report Post »  
  • Locked
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:51pm

    Also, even if this fails to get Obama votes, I‘m happy that it’ll happen within his first (and only) term. No offense to the GOP candidates, but none of them have said much about the military except Ron Paul… who is even more anti-war in his stances than Obama has been. If McCain had won in 2008, I have no doubt that come 2012 we’d have our soldiers still risking their lives for nothing in Iraq.

    Report Post »  
    • Vechorik
      Posted on October 23, 2011 at 7:37am

      There is a big difference between being anti-war and believing in a strong national defense. Ron Paul believes in both. If you worry about war and believe God is on “our side” then take a look at how Kennedy, MLK and Ron Paul view American interventionism/war. I 100% agree with them.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTH60N22lQs

      Report Post »  
    • Vechorik
      Posted on October 23, 2011 at 8:11am

      It’s time we, as Christians, look at war/Israel in a different light:

      Psalm 46:10 — Be still (let go of your concerns)! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth.

      In this verse, God’s people are commanded to “be still”, to cause ourselves to “let go” or, let ourselves become weak. We surrender ourselves in order to know that God is in control. Too often, we believe that we can do all things on our own, without God’s help. But, our personal initiative is no substitute for reliance upon God. We are also to “know that He is God”, and we need to meditate on His attributes -Holiness, Perfection, Majesty, Mercy, and infinite Wisdom … to name just a few. He has adopted us as His children, and He looks after us always.

      Report Post »  
  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:48pm

    Obama must’ve gotten a scolding from Ron Paul on foreign affairs… and listened.

    Unfortunately, after 10 years… the Iraq‘s are too lazy to step up and govern themselves and we can’t keep staying there and babysitting them, its a shame… because the 10 years of fighting and struggle to help give them freedom will be gone in weeks of us leaving…

    In 10 years we will be seeing new mass graves with 100′s of thousands dead in them once again, we stopped a mass murder, but that countries people have already forgotten what it was like to live under his stalin-esque rule and they will go right back under in through Sharia most likely going forward, what a waste…

    Report Post » capitalismrocks  
    • the hawk
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:51pm

      I don’t care which side of the plate you hit from this ia good !

      Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:53pm

      People are who they are, end of the day. It’s what I was saying before the un-Constitutional invasion, if the Iraqis had wanted to overthrow Hussein, they would have already. People choose to live in the system they’re most comfortable with, for the Iraqis that means living under a strongman dictator. Believe it or not there are cultures that don’t find that a bad thing (how, I don’t know).

      You simply cannot force “freedom” on people. That’s the lesson I hope neocons have learned from this, but I doubt it.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • momprayn
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:12pm

      GHOST – Sadly, I agree — it seems so many of us Americans don’t understand Islam and other cultures and how different they see things and their wants —- we think they are like us in our American Revolution – no — they aren’t….cannot work with Islam anyway. You can‘t say that these ppl don’t know what it’s like to live under a dictator now and that they have been fooled by the radicals. They know — there are reasons why dictators like Saddam can come to power & stay in power. In my opinion, we should not go into these tribal Muslim countries and try to “nation build” – wrong (but thought it good we took out Saddam).. BTW Pres. Eisenhower was adamantly against this stuff and was against going into Vietnam. He was worried what would happen after he left – that others would not have the wisdom, integrity, etc. to know when to say “no” to the Generals about doing this type of thing. He was right.

      Report Post »  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:21pm

      “In 10 years we will be seeing new mass graves with 100′s of thousands dead in them.”

      Yes, unfortunately, probably we will. Where, who knows? Unless US security is threatened–which it was not by Iraq in 2003–we should resist the temptation to intervene without a clear mandate from Congress, strict limitations on the cost and extent of the mission, and partners if possible, whether we make ourselves out to be leading or following them.

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
    • the hawk
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:18pm

      I wont be seeing them, I will change the ch. We cannot save the world ! Hell at this point I dont think we can even save ourselfs ! 15,OOO,OOO,OOO,OOO.00 $ $$$ IN THE HOLE !
      for everyone of themselfs they kill is one less there will be wanting and trying to kill my children and theirs ! !

      Report Post »  
  • wewantchillywilly
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:48pm

    looks like Iran will move in quicker than they anticipated. another country for the great arab spring to collect.

    Report Post »  
    • World Peace
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:57pm

      We are going to war with Iran.

      Report Post »  
    • wisdomnlight
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:52pm

      We need to flatten Iran…

      Report Post »  
    • huckleberry, 1 ea.
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:53pm

      Yep, Iran takes Iraq…pretty sure Tom Clancey wrote about this….

      Report Post »  
    • Wes Hardin
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 4:48pm

      Iranians aren’t Arabs.

      Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 6:04pm

      If the country breaks up so what? it was a colonial creation to begin with.Then a dictatorship. if shias wish to be iranian that is their business and their right. if the sunnis and shiias and kurds simply want to separate into three countries so what. If persecution against one group breaks out we have an obligation to protect [like in libya when asked]. Time for the arab people to decide their political bounderies for themselves. This is the legacy of western colonialis[the pitting of religions and tribes and the creation of political boundaries for western benefit and so too the proping up of tyranies.]Let the arab spring play itself out organically instead of from a western lens . If muslim people want islamic theocracy that is their right as indigenous people in their homelands. Muslims ,christians and jews lived their harmoniously [more so then jews and christians in europe did] till western colonial interlopers medledI suspect the violence will cease when we pull out. The kurds though are a problem because they are already a nationalst movement and don’t get along with arabs or turks.[hence willing collaborators with american invadors]. maybe that will change when we leave..

      Report Post »  
  • ZerolimitZ
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:44pm

    mhm if he bring the troops back that will gain a lot of votes for 2012. However I will be really happy if its happens. Bring them all back home!!!

    Report Post »  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:50pm

      I think it will be a blip in the polls. November 2012 will still be eleven months away and he is not do flushing this country down the toilet before then.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:51pm

      done flushing…..

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Bill in Texas
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:36pm

      Yes a lot of votes for the other side. The military leans right so that means more warm bodies at home to go to the poles locally. And a better chance to get absentee ballots in to be counted in their home states.

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 4:49pm

      Same as the Bin Laden bump..it will be small and temporary for Obama. Americans are jobless and hurting even the “feel good” news that so many of our people have returned from harm‘s way won’t keep Obama from being voted out in 2012. And Obama can’t really use this to his advantage…stratgecially it puts using Iraq as a fly-over and base of operations in question. It appears Obama bungled the negotiations with Iraq and worse yet for Zero…Bush’s adminstration had negotiated the troop draw down in 2008. Just like Bin Laden..all Obama had to do was sit in that chair in the oval office and say..“ok” because Bush had done the hard work.

      Report Post »  
  • Locked
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:43pm

    Finally.

    Report Post »  
  • tkd_hurricane
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:42pm

    Nothing like playing politics to ramp up for the upcoming campaign season.

    I wonder if this country will ever get any better.. I guess the nation has to wake up from it’s coma first. I’m glad the troops are coming home, it’s simply the agenda in which it was accomplished.

    Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:51pm

      Yep…..which is also the reason for the SSI 3.9% increase effective for 2012. Um, is our economy actually improved by 3.9% since 2009? Disgusting pandering!

      http://njtoday.net/2011/10/19/social-security-benefits-will-increase-for-first-time-since-2009/

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:53pm

      Exactly, the generals have expressed their discomfort with this..Obama’s only looking at the poltical pay off..if any. Don’t forget, he got next to nothing for the Bin Laden raid. My guess is he’ll see the same tiny bump with this and once the reality of the economy jolts the American people, his numbers will sink again. Obama’s resorted to gimmickery in lieu of governance.

      Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:54pm

      I strongly suspect that our national greatness and our “getting better” doesn‘t rely on us waging unconstitutional military actions against nations that haven’t attacked us. We’ll be fine, troops there or not. The focus needs to be at home right now, we’re being destroyed from within and frankly cannot afford this military adventurism any longer.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 4:42pm

      GHOSTOFJEFFERSON…it’s only a matter of time before we have to take action against Iran. The people of Iran as we’ve seen cannot free themselves fromthe mullahs on their own. We know that the surest bet is that they won’t choose another fundamentalist regime after having endured this one. The Iranian people want to join the rest of the civilized world. Iran is the key to the region. They fund and supply Hezbollah and Hamas. We also know they’re targeting the Saudis now. We have a strategic advantage by having a presence in Iraq. We need that fly-over space and areas to lauch operations from. With the mullahs gone, most of the money and weapons are gone for destabilizing elements in the region. I’m ignoring the growing al Qaeda presence in Africa for the sake of the discussion here. Yemen is teetering. Jordan is having problems. The army is barely containing Egypt and we’ll see who fills the vacuum in Libya. Turkey is becoming more Islamist but it still wants inclusion in the EU..that’s to our advantage. We needed to take Assad out in Syria more than Gadaffi in Libya. Syria works in concert with Iran and is a huge influence wiht Hezbollah in Lebanon. The keys are Syria and Iran. We need Iraq from which to launch operations against both. I have a feeling Obama bungled the negotiations with Iraq under the agreements “W”’s administration reached in 2008 for this draw down. I have a feeling we’re not heaing the whole story.

      Report Post »  
  • toledofan
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:42pm

    This ais a big mistake that will come back to haunt us. The entire middle east is in a state of flux and as long as we have a solid presence in the area problems will be minimized. Once we leave there will be some major problems, especailly from Iran. Our entire foriegn policy process is a joke.

    Report Post »  
    • wraith67
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:51pm

      It was illusory anyway, Al Qaeda had been creeping back in for awhile, engaging in lower-key targetted killings and otherwise exploiting Sunni grievances. We’d been paying off the tribal sheikhs who were pissed at AQI for their oversteps, but the money had to dry up if we were going to leave. Our presence was only putting off the conflict that was bound to happen anyway.

      Report Post » wraith67  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:28pm

      My son is on his third deployment. His DEROS is in November. Do really think I want him to remain in order to project power? I know what kind of nightmares he has about waiting for the IED and ordering his men into danger. From the beginning, I never supported the invasion of Iraq. But, once in, I needed to support the troops in their mission. I fully supported going after Bin Laden and execute him. If this meant invading Afghanistan so be it. Our troops are encircled by enemies. This is not a good tactical spot to be in. Think about being the last American troop in either Iraq or Afghanistan. When Viet Nam fell, no one talks about the last American advisors that got left behind.

      Sorry for the rant. This has the feeling like my war. Maybe I am too tainted. BTW I don’t give Obama one ounce of credit. I’d vote for a flying pink pig before I would vote for him.

      Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 4:47pm

      Oh and looks like the genie is out of the bottle. those uppity arabs are not getting back in line.And a person who believes he/she is free is free.That includes choosing an islamic sharia state if that is freedom for them..This isn’t the 20th c where we can impose our will and our values on a billion muslims . Propping up dictators who subjugate their people but benefit us will not be possible any more. If they want a pan muslim caliphate with backward penal codes it is their business. We can and should protect minorites [the responsibility to protect is a valid one] but that does not mean imposing a secular government on people who do not want one. They have to decide, not us.

      Report Post »  
    • Wes Hardin
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 4:54pm

      Name the last country Iran invaded.

      Name the last 10 countries the U.S. invaded.

      Report Post »  
  • drattastic
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:42pm

    obama is pulling out all the stops for reelection. He doesn‘t understand that his base isn’t even close to being big enough to accomplish this. It won’t stop him and his media from trying anything though. The coming year will be interesting to watch ,to see just how far they will stoop. I want all our troops out of these sh@thole countries too but if it all collapses in our premature pullout wake ,then all our troops sacrifices and hundreds of billions of treasure will be for nothing.

    Report Post » drattastic  
  • broker0101
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:40pm

    “WASHINGTON — On the campaign trail, Senator Barack Obama offered a pledge that electrified and motivated his liberal base, vowing to “end the war” in Iraq.”
    – By THOM SHANKER
    Published: December 3, 2008 – NEW YORK TIMES.

    Report Post » broker0101  
  • garyM
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:40pm

    That’ll bring the sputtering American bird down another 1000 ft in altitude, brace for impact! I’m glad these Iraq troops will be coming home but many of us know that military service is a necessary evil to hold on to freedom. Anyone given any thought to how this troop draw down, many of them being reservist, will effect the unemployment rate in America?

    Report Post »  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:57pm

      good point. don’t worry though, we will be back there cleaning up the new dictators mess in a few years. without values none of these countries succeed they just replace dictatorships. God speed to the troops, may they be well taken care of when they are back on u.s. soil

      Report Post »  
  • steveh931
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:40pm

    Great, bring all the contractors home too. not one American left in Iraq. Let the people of Iraq sink or swim. After watching the latest video’s on memri, I think we have a fairly good idea of where that country is heading. Our soldiers and their families have sacrificed beyond belief over the last 9 years to allow the citizens of Iraq the opportunity to embrace freedom, if they turn their backs on a system of government that supports the freedom of their people, let their own pay with their lives. If they choose Freedom, then we will embrace them as neighbors of the free world, God’s Speed.

    Report Post » steveh931  
  • copatriots
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:39pm

    And they will go where instead? I sure doubt the troops will be coming home for very long before they are re-deployed. Obama wants our military out of the country, de-moralized and exhausted.

    So….what happens to Iraq once our troops have left? Kind of scary how Babylon is left to their own devices at this exact moment in time……..

    Report Post »  
  • Hatedemdems
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:38pm

    I hope Obama gets chronic diarrhea, but I agree. We gotta get out of there.

    Report Post »  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:38pm

    BO is telling The terrorist THEY WON!!!!

    Report Post » banjarmon  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:56pm

      No he’s not. Iraq had nothing to do with terrorism or anything else for that matter. Terrorism began and continues to be financed from one main source, Saudi Arabia.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:03pm

      GhostOfJefferson

      For one thing Saddam gave financing for Palestinian terrorism.

      Another thing Salman Pak was a terrorist training camp.

      http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iraq/salman_pak.htm

      Saddam also supported an Iranian terrorist group, “People’s Mujahedeen of Iran”.

      Report Post »  
  • blue_sky
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:37pm

    Official news –
    The top three group donors to Ron Paul are 1) US air force; 2) Navy; 3) Army.
    The top three group donors to Obama and Romney are …. Wall Street banks.
    The Pizza man used the Federal Reserve money to lend to his own campaign.
    WOW!

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    • imbiasedtowardstruth
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:57pm

      Although you are 100% right about Paul, you’re off topic. This tends to annoy The Blaze readers who otherwise are starting to see the light about Ron Paul. Better would have been to mention that we should not be policing the world, and to urge readers to vote for a candidates like Ron Paul who stand for such.

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    • Vechorik
      Posted on October 23, 2011 at 7:41am

      Well, your both right. I’ve had some dear relatives killed in war and the fact that the veterans/military gives more money to Ron Paul than any candidate shows THEIR viewpoint on this subject: war. They are not here to speak, so I’m glad someone is speaking for them.

      It also ticks me off to see O‘Reilly support the Wounded Warriors project at the same time O’Reilly works for the GOP war/banking machine.

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  • MikesPace
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:36pm

    OPERATION:GetBackHome http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG8xAjLp1Fw

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  • GhostOfJefferson
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:36pm

    Good. I approve.

    Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:34pm

    Did our troops die just to hand Iraq over to the Iranians? I guess so.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • marvlus
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:41pm

      If that happens, then the fault will be of the Iraqis, not the Americans or their soldiers.

      Report Post »  
    • steveh931
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:49pm

      We cannot stay forever, they should be strong enough by now to support themselves. There are those in their Parliament that are already teaching hatred towards the United States, are we suppose to overthrow their government which was appointed by their people? I’m sure there are those that sit in their Parliament that support freedom throughout their nation, let them rise and take their place in history. Iraq’s Parliament is no longer working with the United States, it is dictating policy through dependency, time to go!

      Report Post » steveh931  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:51pm

      Obama could be making the biggest strategic blunder in modern history. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when we take on Iran. A neutralized Iran would effectively defuse the entire region. Hamas and Hezbollah rely on Iraninan weapons and backing getting to them through Syria. We know that the likelihood of an Islamist government taking over in Iran is remote because that’s what they have already. We know that the Iranian people want to be part of the civilized world. Iraq although strained at times, we can expect to cooperate for fly-over missions and even ground operations into Iran. We know the generals are not pleased with such a huge draw down. I know that our troops deserve to come home, but to squander their hard work and sacrifice would be criminal. We know that Obama is no longer governing. He’s only concerned with his re-election campaign. He’s pulling every desperate move he can. Mini-stimulus, throwing his hat in with the OWS protesters and now an almost full troop withdrawal to attempt to get popular sympathy. I don’t like the games Obama plays with us all.

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    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:58pm

      Our troops died for no reason at all, long before this withdrawl was even contemplated. Iraq was a huge waste of lives, resources and money.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:04pm

      STEVEH931
      Well said, I agree wholeheartedly

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:07pm

      marvlus & steveh931
      You guys nailed it.

      steveh931
      I just wondered if the left had not been so adamantly anti American if makeup of the Iraqi parliament would have been significantly different. If we look weak or disunited then other politicians take their cue.

      Report Post »  
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