So are we/aren't we, out of Iraq by Dec 31st 2011?

[truedelphi]

Seems things are still up in the air. No one seems to know for sure.

This report from five hours ago:

http://www.presstv.ir/usdetail/204907.html

The Pentagon denied reports Saturday that the U.S. abandoned plans to keep several thousand troops in Iraq after a year-end deadline, saying talks with Baghdad were still underway.

In a statement to reporters, Pentagon press secretary George Little denied the news reports: “Suggestions that a final decision has been reached about our training relationship with the Iraqi government are wrong. Those discussions are ongoing,” Little said.

The U.S. is still itching to keep about 5,000 additional troops past the deadline in December. The Maliki government - circumventing Parliament - initially agreed to the deal, but talks reached an impasse over granting the additional troops immunity from Iraqi law. Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh last week suggested that Iraq was prepared to bow out of the deal, and instead rely on private contractors for “training” programs in 2012 and beyond.

A senior Obama administration official in Washington anonymously confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that all American troops will leave Iraq except for about 160 active-duty soldiers attached to the U.S. Embassy.
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Of course, no matter what, last week's testimony from top military officials in front of the hearings in chambers indicate that there will not be any monetary savings should our nation pull most of its troops out.

Testimony from senior military officers indicated two things:

One) It costs more money to secure the safety of fewer troops (Like the proverbial frog that hops across a room, each hop taking it halfway to the end of the room, yet the frog never reaches the end of the room, so too are the needs of our military budget. Except the closer our military plans get us to committing zero troops, the more astronomical are the needs of the military budget!)

Two) Even should all the fighting that the nation is engaged in everywhere end tomorrow, or next week, the US Military is far behind the times. In fact, in an effort to keep the nation secure, our military leaders and their buddies in the defense firms have created a new meme to make sure that funding doesn't decline. That meme is "Modernization."

Without this modernizing, the USA could well be wiped off the face of the earth! <sarcasm>

After all, combining the spending of the next fifty nations - they almost come close to something like 50% of our budget on the military!

[onehandle]

1. We will never leave. Period. nt

[MH1]

9. Just as we are still in Korea and Germany. nt.

[In Other News]

2. It's not your responsibility, America.....

You need to bring your kids home...

[truedelphi]

3. Have to say I agree with your sentiment -

But it does sound like even should we get our "kids" to leave Iraq, the plan is to still have an abundant number of private contractors over there.

I have several "distant cousins" who have served a tour or two in Iraq, and upon coming home, realize that there are still no jobs, so they enlist with one of the priavate contractors.

[sad sally]

4. Check out the most recent Quarterly Report of the Special Inspector General for Iraq

The State Department will assume primary responsibility for a planned $6.8 billion operation, carried out “from 11 locations around Iraq, including three consulates and the world’s largest embassy.” The reported 160 Marines that will stay will have responsibilities to carry out “two of the largest Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programs in the world and to spend the $2.55 billion in Iraq Security Forces Fund (ISFF).”

In addition to the 5,000 contractors, the State Department will have a fleet of 46 aircraft (based and maintained in Baghdad, Basra, and Erbil). Imagine the operation and maintenance of this fleet will mean out of work military personnel can find work in those Iraqi cities. There are large numbers of US military and contractors in Kuwait who could conceivably work in Iraq and live in Kuwait.

The State Department’s FY 2012 budget includes another $3.7 billion request for Iraq for economic managemenet programs, and the US Agency for International Development will continue to oversee much of Iraq's economy (including "natural resources").

These pdf documents seem to spell out a continued presence in Iraq - the financial outlays aren't going away; crimes won't be accounted for; life for many Iraqis remains full of violence.

[truedelphi]

5. Very good information. Thank you.

And few Americans realize that among the many requirements forced upon the average Iraqi when the "Constitution" for their "new democratic" state was signed, that the farmers there are required to use only GM seed for their crops!

Meanwhile, most of their traditional foods, such as dates and olives, have been bulldozed away under the pretext that the shrubs and tree branches provided cover for the insurgents.

[me b zola]

6. My guess is that there will be a privatized military presence there indefinitely

I don't think there is any intention of leaving Iraq. Just my 2 centavos.

[truedelphi]

7. Mine too. And that of the

Senior military people testifying before a Congressional panel last week.

[RKP5637]

8. The US will leave Iraq and Afghanistan about as quickly as Germany, like never at

this time. And, we are in 130 countries. Meanwhile, Americans at home will be dieing of health issues, poverty, unemployment and ignorance. Go USA! Go USA! Go USA!

[rugger1869]

10. We'll have 250 - 500 troops

But that's about it. Don't forget we have troops in over 120 countries. We're global.

[Dragonfli]

11. The mercenary force is to replace the traditional force in Iraq (at ten times the cost per soldier)

I have heard numbers between 25,000 and 200,000 of them (no code of military justice and immune to local laws).

The fact that you can't get real numbers is reason for concern as is the lack of functional liability for their actions, but who knows,





maybe modern mercs are altruists as well as their bosses.:sarcasm:

[femrap]

12. War is a Racket.....K and R

It's a waste of money....creating nothing but death, destruction, and misery.

I'm against it and hopefully a critical mass of humans will realize this and truly evolve our existence.

Thx for posting!

[truedelphi]

14. Solidarity for you and me and evryone else who is

Supporting OWS.

[KurtNYC]

13. It's simple: We aren't leaving until the oil runs out.

So maybe 20 years or so?

[Taverner]

15. I dream of a world without war

I really do - and I think it is attainable

Maybe not in my lifetime

But someday