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| Iraq |
| Obama to Unveil Iraq Plan Friday |
| 2009-02-27 |
| President Barack Obama is expected on Friday to unveil his proposal for gradually reducing U.S. troop strength in Iraq. Mr. Obama will make the announcement at Camp Lejeune, a Marine base in North Carolina. Phasing out U.S. troop deployments to Iraq was one of Mr. Obama's campaign promises last year. "In 16 months, we should be able to reduce our combat troops, provide some relief to military families and our troops, and bolster our efforts in Afghanistan so that we can capture and kill [Osama] bin Laden and crush al-Qaida," said President Obama. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says the president gave his advisers specific instructions. "The president asked the national security team to put together a plan that they and he believed would accomplish the goal of removing our combat forces from Iraq in the most responsible way," said Robert Gibbs. Like many government decisions, this one involved some compromise. Mr. Obama wanted to withdraw troops during a 16 month period. Military chiefs asked for 23 months. They apparently have settled on 19 months, with as many as 50,000 troops staying behind - most as trainers and advisers. That angered some lawmakers in the president's Democratic Party, who want all U.S. forces to leave Iraq. Gibbs says Mr. Obama has always talked about the need to leave some troops behind. "The president also talked on the campaign that some force would remain in Iraq for limited missions, consistent with training and combating terrorism," he said. Republican Senator John McCain raises a different concern. He was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam conflict and he points out that that war started with U.S. troops acting as advisers. "The draw down will take place," said John McCain. "We will leave, I've read, as many as 50,000 - quote - 'advisers.' But let's also be realistic. Advisers in any conflict are in harm's way." |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #8 CNN > POTUS OBAMA has just announced before US Marines that the US COMBAT MISSION IN IRAQ will effec end next August 31, 2010 wid the planned departure of approxi 100,000 US troops from Iraq, leaving behind another 50,000 to advise and train Iraqi forces. WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, BASICALLY ALL RADICAL ISLAM NEEDS IS TO CONDUCT LIMITED-SCALE LOCAL ACTINS WHILE WAITING FOR IRAN, ETC. TO PC DEV AND INCREASE ITS NUCLEAR ARSENAL. WIth the US -World economy in alleged pervasive "recession" [or "Great Depression II"], and repor worsening, Radical islam can prob wage that the remaining 50,000 US troops in Iraq will decline even further over time. ITS WHAT HIDDEN IMAM-MAHDI "DIVINE APPEARANCES" ARE MADE FOR. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-02-27 17:54 |
| #7 All troops currently in theatre are reclassifed as support elements and will stay for another couple years Got it in the 1st try, SteveS! My ACR is going over(again)in the near future as a "Convoy Security Company". actual quote from a moonbat aquaintance follows: Whiny moonbat/ But I thot The Iraquians were at peace? /Whiny moonbat |
| Posted by: N guard 2009-02-27 09:57 |
| #6 What I have heard so far is that Obama intends to remove the bulk of the troops on a fixed timetable that essentially matches both the Iraqi demands and the Bush estimates from last summer/fall, and includes the caveat that the current path of progress continues. There's no change. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-02-27 09:53 |
| #5 how about getting those troops that have had back to back tours of duty some stop-loss compensation? now thats change i could believe in Coming to a theater near you in... due time (just before the next election). |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-02-27 09:36 |
| #4 "P.S. All troops currently in theatre are reclassifed as support elements and will stay for another |
| Posted by: Haveanoodle55 2009-02-27 09:06 |
| #3 ...capture and kill bin Laden... Both? Really? |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2009-02-27 08:57 |
| #2 how about getting those troops that have had back to back tours of duty some stop-loss compensation? now thats change i could believe in. The pols would sooner concern themselves with the PR implications of Gitmo, than with the welfare of soldiers. politicians say they love our troops, pure phoney baloney. the egomanical ones whove never actually been enlisted, wouldnt be so egotistical if they had. |
| Posted by: GinzaNoodleGirl35 2009-02-27 01:07 |
| #1 Ah, yes. The late Friday afternoon press release. Always a sign that skullduggery is afoot. My guess: All the combat troops are coming home. Hooray! Obama has single-handedly ended the War In Iraq. P.S. All troops currently in theatre are reclassifed as support elements and will stay for another couple years. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2009-02-27 00:46 |