Reply #4: Not sure what you are looking for [View All]

[zipplewrath]

There are supposedly about 5000 "trainers" who are conducting instructional activities. The balance are there for the reasons the Obama outlined that included combat missions against Al Queada and for support, when requested, by the Iraqis. They will also participate in "training" missions and in force protection and security. Beyond that, it would seem your concern is more about what is the mix between these various activities. I'm sure that varies regularly and I would anticipate that the combat missions would decrease over time, as will the troop levels. In the end, there will be the installation of the State Department Security personel which will number around 9000. I'd anticipate that by the time the troop levels are down that low, all they'll be doing is the security mission that the state department contractors will take over.