Easily the best take-a-way from last night's SOTU.

[trumad]

"As a candidate, I promised that I would end this war, and that is what I am doing as President. We will have all of our combat troops out of Iraq by the end of this August. We will support the Iraqi government as they hold elections, and continue to partner with the Iraqi people to promote regional peace and prosperity. But make no mistake: this war is ending, and all of our troops are coming home".

:toast: :fistbump: :applause: :bounce: :toast: :fistbump: :applause: :bounce: :toast: :fistbump: :applause: :bounce: :toast: :fistbump: :applause: :bounce:

[FBaggins]

1. "Home" for too many of them...

...appears to be Afghanistan.

[trumad]

2. We're not sending 100,000 plus to Afghanistan...

It also means troops in Afghanistan won't be doing 3 to 4 tours.

[FBaggins]

3. We'll see.

Until the total number in Iraq and Afghanistan combined is substantially below the figure under shrub... let's just say that I won't be holding my breath.

[zbdent]

4. I remember plenty of screaming by Repugs about Clinton not bringing troops home

but when it was George W. Bush putting them in place and constantly re-upping them ... cheers, along with attacks of anybody questioning/mentioning that as "You hate the troops, you commie pinko faggot!"

[FBaggins]

6. Yes. The clear difference is that

Democrats would like the troops to come home <B>regardless</b> of who is currently president.

[KharmaTrain]

5. This Ugly War Won't Be Complete...

I'm glad he's bringing the troops home and our profile in that country has greatly diminished. Here's hoping a similar arrangement follows this year in Afghanistan that also lets us start withdrawing. But this dark period of our history won't be full until those who created these wars and mismananged them are held accountable.

[gkhouston]

7. We'll see. I'm hoping "combat troops" isn't a weasel phrase. I wouldn't want

to have "combat troops" come home while "peacekeepers" or "advisers" or contractors stay behind and continue fighting.

[90-percent]

8. The Iraq War

The multiple tours our poor service people are forced to serve is almost unprecedented in America. There was nothing of the sort in WW2 or Viet Nam. Maybe the Revolutionary War or the Civil War?

The way America has treated it's military personnel reminds me of how the Luftwaffe treated it's WW2 fighter pilots. They didn't have "term limits". They basically flew for the duration or until they were killed, which ever came first.

It's amazing to me that our country really believes in "Supporting the Troops" by making them serve multiple tours until they are a casualty or go mad or become "broken".

-90% Jimmy