AP: U.S. abandons plans to keep troops in Iraq next year

[one_voice]

The Associated Press has learned that the Obama administration is abandoning plans to keep U.S. troops in Iraq past a year-end withdrawal deadline.

A senior administration official in Washington confirmed Saturday that all American troops will leave except for about 160 troops attached to the U.S. Embassy. The Pentagon had considered leaving up to 5,000 troops to train security forces and hinder Iranian influence.

A senior U.S. military official said the withdrawal could allow future, limited U.S. military training missions if requested.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-abandons-plans-troops-iraq-year-14744610

[Hydra]

1. On the one hand, hope

On the other, where is the devil in these details?

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. Yeah, the military industrial complex is going ot need another war.

[Hydra]

7. Iran? n/t

[Fire Walk With Me]

27. ...

[Hydra]

29. Gravy train to hell? n/t

[Fire Walk With Me]

30. Yes, I sincerely doubt they'll give up all that money very easily. This is the "other" Wall Street..

[PETRUS]

9. Xe services?

How many nongovernmental military contractors will remain?

[Hutzpa]

11. You sure sound like Michele Bachmann

with that devils in the details crap.

[Hydra]

13. Gee, thanks for that enlightened comment

Did I leave the 666 out?

This WH loves to say it's doing one thing, yet manages to do the entire opposite later when we get the details.

[Hutzpa]

14. You're welcome,

but no, I think we spend more time trying to demonize this administration instead
of using that energy to focus it on the real culprits in Congress who are saying no
to everything this administration has offered.

[Hydra]

17. They said "No" to the free trade deals?

And the extension of the Bush/Obama Tax cuts? Cuz I missed that part.

[Hutzpa]

20. Didn't you say the devil's in the details

did you forget to read the details in those deals? Yes? No?

[TheWraith]

16. No, the White House does something, then later you're lied to by FireDogLake about how it's evil.

Just like how they told you that Obama was secretly plotting an endless occupation of Iraq.

Just like how they told you he was really against repealing DADT.

Just like how they told you we were going to have a hundred thousand troops in Libya.

And on, and on, and on...

[bluestateguy]

2. Boo Yah!

Now bring home those 100 "advisors" wasting our time and money in Africa.

[TheWraith]

4. Yeah, protecting civilians from being slaughtered is a waste of our efforts!

We're just interfering with those Christian Dominionist militias, after all. :eyes:

[bluestateguy]

6. We have people in this country being slaughtered by joblessness and poverty

That kills a hell of a lot of people too. Time for us to deal with that right now.

It's time for the U.S. to turn over the World Policeman badge to another country for awhile.

[Name removed]

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[bigtree]

3. the Pentagon would have us there indefinitely

. . . if they had their way. I take this as a hopeful sign the President is asserting himself against his conservative military mentors.

[malthaussen]

8. This is One of those Stories

...that would probably be very interesting if we knew the whole story. Oh, how often I have wished to be a fly on the wall when points like these are decided.

I'll agree with Bigtree and suggest that cautious optimism is the best reaction unless and until another shoe drops. This may be a sign that Mr Obama is casting off the leading-strings, assuming that he was in such strings to begin with.

-- Mal

[malaise]

15. There was a press conference earlier this week

and they announced that troop numbers in both Iraq and Afghanistan would be reduced.

[Warpy]

18. I'm delighted that the press isn't making a big deal out of it

We desperately need to be out of both places completely and permanently.

Maybe we can even let Stupid's tax cuts expire quietly this next time.

And then maybe we'll get the teabaggers out of Congress.

[Luminous Animal]

19. Replaced by the State Department's own private brigade.

Civilians to Take U.S. Lead as Military Leaves Iraq

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/world/middleeast/19withdrawal.html?_r=1

As U.S. Military Exits Iraq, Contractors To Enter
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/17/136357821/as-u-s-military-exits-iraq-contractors-to-enter

[theaocp]

22. There you go with your luminescence!

What do you think you're doing? :thumbsup:

Oh, and it's good to see unabashed supporters of FDL here! I'll have to check out your link later today!

[chill_wind]

25. Not expanding that already monstrous embassy

fortress for nothing. Good to see most troops getting out. Time will tell what contractors instead and ramped up State costs.

[woo me with science]

23. The military industrial complex need not worry a whit.

Mercenary forces to double in Iraq after 2011
http://waronyou.com/topics/u-s-to-double-mercenary-forces-in-iraq-after-2011-military-pullout




The military industrial complex is well-protected under Obama:


SOCOM. Bush- 60 countries. Obama 120 countries by end of 2011
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2118912&mesg_id=2122224

OBAMA AGREES WITH PANETTA, ENDORSES MEDICARE ‘ADJUSTMENTS’ OVER DEFENSE CUTS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1692899

Panetta Starts Singing Contractors’ Tune After Closed-Door Meeting
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1964568

A Top Senate Dem Says Iran Plot May Be Act Of War
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5024359

Some analysts skeptical of alleged Iranian plot
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2108733

[Fire Walk With Me]

24. It would cost a tremendous amount of money to transport them home.

Here's hoping they aren't coming up with someplace else to send them.

[dkf]

26. Yay for us!

My best wishes to the people of Iraq.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

28. Does that mean we won? Or, is it the famous Cut-and-Run maneuver perfected by our mighty military?

Or, is it the unlikely instance of admitting to an obviously lost imperialist war.