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Officials: Obama to Leave Up to 50K Troops in Iraq Through 2011

RightinNYC

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Officials: Obama to Leave Up to 50K Troops in Iraq Through 2011

President Obama will announce plans today to withdraw the bulk of the current 142,000 U.S. troops in Iraq by Aug. 31 of 2010, leaving 35,000 to 50,000 in place until the end of 2011, senior administration officials said yesterday.

...

Obama, who will make his announcement this morning during a trip to the Marine base at Camp Lejeune, N.C., briefed congressional leaders at the White House yesterday afternoon. Even before that session, as leaked portions of the plan have been reported this week, many Democrats have complained that 50,000 troops is too many to leave behind.

The plan allows three months longer to pull out combat forces than Obama promised during the presidential campaign, and "50,000 is a little higher number than I anticipated," Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said before the briefing.

Here's something worth keeping in mind:

Rep. John McHugh (NY), the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said that the president's withdrawal plan "is one that we should pray for, plan for and work toward." McHugh said he remained concerned about tenuous security in Iraq, and added that Obama had "assured me that he will revisit his plan if the situation on the ground deteriorates and violence increases."

Also:

The officials said the commanders and conditions on the ground would also determine the exact size of the temporary residual force. In his announcement today, Obama plans to outline a new mission for the troops remaining after August of next year. An unspecified number will conduct ongoing counterterrorism against al-Qaeda and "other extremists" with--and without--Iraqi forces, they said.

So when he said "all combat troops out in 16 months," what he actually meant was "most combat troops out in 19 months."

And here's something I found amusing:

"It will be structured in such a way . . . to allow us to address some of the fundamental issues as it relates to the health" of the overstretched U.S. military force, one official said, both in relation to Afghanistan, where Obama last week pledged to send an additional 17,000 troops, and "then ultimately as it relates to using this period . . . with a very hard end date" for Iraq. That date, Jan. 1, 2012, was set as the deadline for final withdrawal of all U.S. forces, in a status of forces agreement signed last year by former President George W. Bush and the Iraqi government.

"So it's a very different mission than we have now," Gates said. Referring to the existing status-of-forces agreement, Gates added: "Whatever number the president approves as of the date he approves is a way station, because if there is no new agreement, under the SOFA, that number has to be zero at the end of 2011."

Can anyone explain how Obama's timetable is in any way, shape or form different from Bush's? The only difference that I can see is that under Bush's plan, we would have to have every soldier out of Iraq by the end of 2011. Under this proposal, we'll still have 35-50k there on that date.
 
Can anyone explain how Obama's timetable is in any way, shape or form different from Bush's?

It's obvious isn't it? The troops stationed there will no longer be classified as combat troops.
 
It's obvious isn't it? The troops stationed there will no longer be classified as combat troops.

That was probably my favorite part. "We're removing all combat troops...and then taking some of the remaining people and having them go out on patrols, search for terrorists, etc. But that's not combat!"
 
Can anyone explain how Obama's timetable is in any way, shape or form different from Bush's? The only difference that I can see is that under Bush's plan, we would have to have every soldier out of Iraq by the end of 2011. Under this proposal, we'll still have 35-50k there on that date.

The difference is it's Obama's Presidency and everything is always tentative.

I'm betting Bush said a lot of that stuff just to make the people happy, and maybe ease the military's fatigue with it all. I'd say a lot of soldier's were relieved they wouldn't have to go over there when they heard the plans.
 
Can anyone explain how Obama's timetable is in any way, shape or form different from Bush's? The only difference that I can see is that under Bush's plan, we would have to have every soldier out of Iraq by the end of 2011. Under this proposal, we'll still have 35-50k there on that date.

It can't be explained because there is no change or difference in the Bush plan. It is a PR stunt that only the most gullible can fall for. But alas, even his minions of anti-war nut bags see through this as being more of the same and very unhappy with this perpetual campaigner.
 
Can anyone explain how Obama's timetable is in any way, shape or form different from Bush's?

Under Obama's the soldiers that are still there have Hope? I mean, that's what's important!
 
It's obvious isn't it? The troops stationed there will no longer be classified as combat troops.
Symbolism over substance again. They are soldiers and look like soldiers no matter what the mission.
 
Officials: Obama to Leave Up to 50K Troops in Iraq Through 2011



Here's something worth keeping in mind:



Also:



So when he said "all combat troops out in 16 months," what he actually meant was "most combat troops out in 19 months."

And here's something I found amusing:





Can anyone explain how Obama's timetable is in any way, shape or form different from Bush's? The only difference that I can see is that under Bush's plan, we would have to have every soldier out of Iraq by the end of 2011. Under this proposal, we'll still have 35-50k there on that date.
And the sheep keep cooing to anything good. And for now their bleats fend off the wolves. But maybe people are starting to realize the nation's shepherd doesn't care about his flock all too much? Or maybe has a different group in mind as his flock other than all the American people as a whole.
We should have realized that after all the laws and new key wrenching points in our laws where enabled a new leader would be willing to say anything just to intercept all the power that has been set up before him. And should have filtered our candidates more heavily.
 
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Sooooo.. Are they taking away all their ammo and letting them patrol the streets non-combat style? :shock:
Or are they going to give them all tazers and let them go LAPD on Iraq? :shock:
Or did America get a lemon? :doh
 
No combat troops was a nice slight of hand. The real magic in todays speech, was more money for veterans, a 21st century G.I. Bill, and a pay raise for the troops!!!

Yep, he included the war funding in his budget, yet he just instructed the Pentagon to cut 10% from the military budget.

Obama just stands there smiling and bull****ting the American people, and the MSM can't jiz on themselves fast enough as they report the bozo's message.
 
Sooooo.. Are they taking away all their ammo and letting them patrol the streets non-combat style? :shock:
Or are they going to give them all tazers and let them go LAPD on Iraq? :shock:
Or did America get a lemon? :doh






I vote for the latter! :2wave:
 
So when he said "all combat troops out in 16 months," what he actually meant was "most combat troops out in 19 months."
Obama qualified his war positions enough that I think a substantial number of people who voted for him would rather he make decisions based on what's realistic rather than what he campaigned on. That is, I don't think he represented himself as someone who be pigheaded about an artificial deadline. Given my impression of your political views, I would think you'd be happy about that.

Now, the whitewashing in this speech is another matter, but nothing unexpected from a politician of any stripe. I'd take it over Bush admin fear mongering any day.

Can anyone explain how Obama's timetable is in any way, shape or form different from Bush's?
What's different is that actually agreeing to a timetable isn't a first class waffle for Obama. I suppose you swallowed Bush's "aspirational goals" whitewashing?

While I want the US out ASAP, if there is already an agreement to leave, I'm satisfied in fulfilling those obligations as they stand.

My decision to vote for Obama (as opposed to 3rd party) was based on McCain's rhetoric, not Bush's.
 
Under Bush the troops success was recognized, applauded, and celebrated.

Under Obama the troops success is ignored, belittled, and **** on.

That is the primary difference..and it matters more then anything else.
 
Now, the whitewashing in this speech is another matter, but nothing unexpected from a politician of any stripe. I'd take it over Bush admin fear mongering any day.

This is fascinating irony considering the Obama Adminstration/Democrat fear mongering of the American public to pass trillions in Government funded programs without a single debate about how to pay for it don't you think?

I am afraid you would be hard pressed to convince me that the Bush Administration was “fear” mongering, but I would be happy to compare Obama’s “fear” mongering to your examples any day of the week. Unless of course you are going to argue that the Clinton Administration and many senior Democrats in the Congress were doing the identical "fear" mongering when they argued for passage of the Patriot Acts and Joint Resolution on Iraq.
 
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Under Bush the troops success was recognized, applauded, and celebrated.

Under Obama the troops success is ignored, belittled, and **** on.

That is the primary difference..and it matters more then anything else.

Of course for one to believe the above trite commentary, one would have to live on planet denial.

The troops were RARELY if ever applauded and celebrated but rather denigrated; let's recap what Liberals, the liberal media and Democrats were saying the last 8 years: The war was mismanaged, we had lost the war, the troops were torturing innocents the troops were "going into Iraqi houses in the dark of night killing innocent Iraqi's,” etc etc etc.

If this is applauding, I certainly am living in a parallel universe from you.
:roll:
 
You didn't read what I said. Or simply misunderstood it.

What you said there I agree with...
What you said is not in contradiction to what I said.
 
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This is fascinating irony considering the Obama Adminstration/Democrat fear mongering of the American public to pass trillions in Government funded programs without a single debate about how to pay for it don't you think?

I am afraid you would be hard pressed to convince me that the Bush Administration was “fear” mongering, but I would be happy to compare Obama’s “fear” mongering to your examples any day of the week.
Well since you don't think that Bush was fear mongering, it would be interesting to hear you differentiate the Obama administration's tactics vs the Bush admin's railroading to pass TARP before the election.

If you don't believe that government intervention is necessary or prudent, then it will appear as fear mongering to you, but that's not the case with me. Also the financial emergency is real, unlike the supposed threat from Hussein.
 
Officials: Obama to Leave Up to 50K Troops in Iraq Through 2011



Here's something worth keeping in mind:



Also:



So when he said "all combat troops out in 16 months," what he actually meant was "most combat troops out in 19 months."

And here's something I found amusing:





Can anyone explain how Obama's timetable is in any way, shape or form different from Bush's? The only difference that I can see is that under Bush's plan, we would have to have every soldier out of Iraq by the end of 2011. Under this proposal, we'll still have 35-50k there on that date.

I like to look at these decisions in the "what would the press have said if Bush did it" filter.

If Bush said what Obama had, promised as Obama had, the press and the Lefties would be tearing him to shreds.

The first line from them would be the good 'ol "Bush is a liar", and they would go on from there.
 
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