Only 3,700 troops have left Iraq the past 10 months.

[tekisui]

The 10 months prior to that, 67,300 were brought home.

Can we not get out any faster? Why are we waiting until the last minute? We have only 5 months to get 46,000 out if we are to meet the December 31 deadline for no troops remaining.

Find all the numbers here: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/Centers/Saban/Iraq%20Index/index.pdf

[tekisui]

1. Interestingly, the numbers actually went up 2,000 this past May.

[TheWraith]

2. Because the schedules aren't as simple as "X number per month."

It's also "X number required to remove Y equipment in Z time." And "V number required to protect troops X while Y is accomplished."

[tekisui]

3. Why are we waiting until the last moment?

Why not try to leave say next month? Do we really need to wait until December to complete the exit?

FWIW, I think it is so that some troops can be left behind past December. IIt seems to be heading that way.

[eilen]

4. Bullshit. nt

[brentspeak]

7. You have, with one word, accurately summed up that poster's complete posting history. n/t

[Poll_Blind]

8. Ain't that the truth.

:thumbsup:

PB

[Skittles]

11. you two are so fucking funny

where is YOUR source?

[DeSwiss]

10. TRUTH!

[tekisui]

5. kick for the unrecs. Less than 4,000 in 10 months?!?

Are we even trying to end this war?

[Igel]

6. My school district moves 11,000 high school kids a day by bus, each way.

These aren't combat units with lots of tanks. These are lighter units, and plans have been made to leave a lot of the weaponry and infrastructure behind.

Moreover, I'm not sure that the 46k troops represent. How many are logistics and supply folk, cooks and drivers and 19-year-olds involved in putting up power transmission lines?

[DeSwiss]

9. Because we're not going anywhere.

Because they're working as we speak, on a "http://thinkprogress.org/security/2011/05/26/176630/us-iran-iraq-forever/">justification" for keeping troops there. Because they're hoping we'll be "http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/07/05/us-officials-again-nudge-iraq-to-allow-extended-military-presence/">asked" to stay longer by the corrupt regime that we put in-place to begin with.

- Right now, it's most likely just a matter of how much......

K&R