Obama says Iraq pullout by Aug 2010
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0
Sarge
"leave tens of thousands ( of U.S. troops ) behind"
Unacceptable! The Iraqis want ALL U.S. troops out! Right?
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smithinjapan
And Obama comes through on ANOTHER promise! This man is living up to more of his promises in 5 weeks than bush did in his entire 8 years and probably his entire life! Nice for the US to have a president who actually does what he says he will, and works for the people.
It is a shame that Iraq will likely fall apart after the US leaves, but that will be the case if it's in one year or 10, since the last president set the stage for that to happen when the decision to rush in was made.
It'll also help free up BILLIONS and BILLIONS for improving the economy before Obama starts his second term. Good job, Obama!!
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WayneRooney10
Yanks won. Terrormakers got with the programme. Victory is always sweet.
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Sarge
"It is a shame that Iraq will likely fall apart after the US leaves"
Dream on, Smith. The surge, which President Obama said wouldn't work, worked, giving the Iraqis breathing room to build up their security forces.
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telecasterplayer
President Obama's campaign promise was "withdrawal in 16 months, depending on the situation on the ground". Most Americans would want to get out sooner than this plan, but he is acting to fulfill that campaign promise, so let's watch and see how it goes.
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adaydream
I'll be glad when they're out altogether. < :-)
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sarcasm123
I think they should remain in Iraq until we are 100% of the safety of the country. Don't let the Iraqis suffer from the mistakes of the Americans. The Americans complain it costs too much to keep the troops there (both financially and in body counts)? So be it. Let this be a lesson for a country that has started and fought more wars within the last 50 years than any other country on the planet.
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bebert
That's not a pullout. When the United States removed all troops from Saudi Arabia, that was a pullout.
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likeitis
Agreed. This is bullcrap. I might accept a couple thousand remaining, but not a few TEN thousand. I have had some disagreements with Obama, but this is simply unacceptable.
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SushiSake3
likeitis - "I might accept a couple thousand remaining"
You don't have a choice.
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WayneRooney10
Iraqis chose life. They chose peace. They got with the programme.Binny Laden lost, Mr Bush won.
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SushiSake3
wayne - "Binny Laden lost, Mr Bush won."
......The U.S. economy imploded.
I seem to remember OBL, in a video he released in 2006, said one of his chief goals was to bankrupt the U.S. economy.
Looks like GWB did it for him.
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smithinjapan
Sushi: "Looks like GWB did it for him."
They were pretty good buddies, after all... at least via the immediate family.
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likeitis
I have a choice to be angry. I have a choice to feel betrayed. I have a choice next election.
Well, it looks like America will YET ANOTHER permanent military base to add to the empire. Just one more little reason to hate America. Wonderful.
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buddha4brains
Hey you naysayers, do you know where Iraq is? The US will always have a military presence as long as there is oil and Israel to protect. But the US will also stay because Iran is just next door and Russia is exerting its influence all over the region. Just because Bush ran into Iraq/conducted his War on Terror (however you want to call it) without adequate forethought (or just plain thought) does not mean Obama has to pull out in the same way.
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likeitis
Sounds like as good a reason as any for Russia to invade a Central or South American country and have a permanent military base there. The reasoning would be much the same. But you would not be for that, would you?
Iraq is half a world away. The Cold War is over. America needs to get its finger out of the anuses of so many places. America needs to set an example, and that example should not be that its cool to meddle with other countries. Russia is basically following America's lead.
And what is with this Iran is the boogey man crap? AMERICA is the boogey man. Try and prove me wrong. Give us some reasons to be so freaking worried about Iran over the U.S. of A. Go for it.
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buddha4brains
I am not that spooked by Iran. I am however very concerned about Russia. Millions of Russian left because of poverty when Yeltsin was in power; millions are now leaving because thugs rule and one pays for dissent with one's life.
Yes, the Cold War is indeed over, this is a whole new game in which the main player has no particular ideology to sway or cajole - unless machiavelli-ism can be called an ideology. Bush and his band of idiot were also players, we'll have to see how Obama responds (and China too).
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SushiSake3
likeitis - "Give us some reasons to be so freaking worried about Iran over the U.S. of A. Go for it."
Here, I've got a reason - GOPFear (c) - Defn.: a relatively new brand of fear stoked by U.S. Neocons and believed by Americans who really should know better, but despite facts, still choose to believe baloney.
0
TexasAggie
Obama's campaign pledge was all troops out of Iraq within 16 months of taking office. Leaving 30,000 - 50,000 troops there does not equal all.
This is just another in a growing list of broken promises to Americans by Obama.
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likeitis
So we agree that Iran is a non-reason? Fluff? Bullcrap?
I scarcely understand why Russian emigration problems cause you concern regarding this issue. The dissent thing is a bit of a problem, but I cannot say Guantanamo Bay, the Patriot Act or American's pre-emptive excuse for unfounded wars makes me feel that great about America either.
The new war seems to be an economic one. And it should be fought economically and not militarily or with threat of force. Which is this "influence" of Russia of which you speak? They have some foreign base in the area I don't know about?
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skipthesong
Give us some reasons to be so freaking worried about Iran over the U.S. of A. Go for it."
If they want to fight us, as many of its elite wanted to, they would probably kick our butts on the ground.
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skipthesong
hey sushi:
Americans who really should know better, but despite facts, still choose to believe baloney." Well, I for one stopped believing in a god.
For all the right wing bashing you do, you still chummy up to the most right winging right wingers on the planet.
The real baloney is believing that Iran is truly a peaceful country not intent on ridding the place of Jews.
OH, why don't you watch last years' Spooks. Fictional as it may be, the scenario made a lot of sense.
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likeitis
Where and why did they want to fight? What stopped them? Did I neglect to turn on the TV at the right time to hear the direct threats?
Even saber rattlers don't bother me as much as those who ACTUALLY INVADE THE WRONG COUNTRIES.
What place? And why are they holding back?
No. The REAL baloney is this continued fear mongering about Iran with nothing but smoke to back it up.
They don't like Israel. No surprise as their previous nuclear power plant was bombed out by Israel (and Iran did NOTHING!)
0
Madverts
likeitis,
To simply pull the troops out as a promised election pledge and to hell with the consequences would be a bloody disaster. It would even be criminal, as Iraq would more than likely descend into chaos, and the ensuing bloodbath making the summer of 2006 look like holiday camp.
Obama has made a compromise between his promise, and the military generals on the ground that are keeping the bandaid on the surge. Pretty good thinking IMO.
0
Gombei424Canada
likeitis:The Cold War is over. America needs to get its finger out of the anuses of so many places.
Bang on,my friend.Your metafore is astounding,and appropriate.Your posts are a breath of fresh air here.Like me and like Ghandi you know that war never accomplished ANYTHING!Well, anyways, we all know that bush just wanted Iraq's oil, so he started his war using the assassination attempt on his daddy as an excuse.It's a shame Iraq will eventually return to lawlessness once the US pulls out. It really is too funny watching the few remaining republicans here try and defend bush's disaterous decision to invade a country on the other side of the world and posing NO threat to America.It's just a shame that Obama, who is the first truly ethical and moral leader America has ever had,has inherited this mess. He will succeed, but if he doesn't it is bush's fault, and the fault of his supporters here.Said supporters can't handle hearing it from those of us in the stands watching it all go pear-shaped but, oh well,logic never was their strong point.
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likeitis
Everyone, I am taking back everything I said in this thread with regards to Obama's promise and a permanent base in Iraq (for now). I just noticed the end of the article.
As long as this is still in effect, all is well. Why didn't someone point this out to me? (;_:)
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buddha4brains
likeitis I would never say Iran is "fluff" but I certainly do recognize that some go crazy at the mention of Iran for no good reason.
Talk to a Russian about Russia. Those who actively and publicly protest the Russian gov't get a public execution - read the papers. Normally, millions of people do not leave their home country if everything to going great. This should be a cause of concern since Russia has already shown that it is willing to export control over its citizens (eg in the UK).
I have heard that what is going on inside Russia today (and unreported) is a tightening grip that makes Stalin look like Ghandi's best friend. Perhaps an exaggeration but certainly not as benign as you seem to think.
I am less concerned with Ogama's "broken promises" than his ability to stop America from losing influence. I believe Russia will be a major problem in a few words. I hope I am wrong.
0
Midnightpromise
GITMO, seems that Obama wants to close it down, only problem is no one wants to claim their wrongfully imprisoned citizens. Funny huh? Patriot Act, yea bombings all around the world since 9/11, except in USA, hummmm wonder why? pre-emptive war eh? Guess you win the Monday morning QB on that one, we will never know what Saddam might have done will we?
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Ranger_Miffy
Lots of Americans have left the country over the last administration. (moi aussi) but I wonder, with Obama at the helm, will there be a reverse? A repatriation? It's interesting to contemplate.
0
rollonarte
Iraq is a done deal. Saddam Hussein is gone. There are hundreds of political parties in Iraq today. The ramifications will be counted in decades.
Iran was humiliated there, (and in Gaza). Everyone in the Arab world knows this.
We forget that Iraq is years behind us. People in the region view what America did there through a much different lens.
Bush never stole their oil.
Bush left office without making America 'a police state' or attempting a coup, which a large numbers of complete idiots in the West assured the world would be the case.
Prime Minister Maliki went to Iran, returned, defied their leaders and sided with the US on security arrangements.
Iraq held their second round of free elections. I think Turkey is the only other country in the region that can boast of something like this.
In the most recent Iraq elections religious parties lost, pro-Iraq parties won.
The same America whose elected leaders voted to use American blood and treasure to liberate Iraq chose for their new president an African American man. The Arab world's rigidly controlled state media, and the equally rigidly controlled media of the European nations who are Iraq's former colonial masters, declared this would never happen.
Try to imagine all this through the eyes of ordinary Iraqis or anyone in the region who just wants the simple dignity that having freedom would bring.
0
Sarge
"war never accomplished ANYTHING!"
Except to secure Gombei's freedom to say "war never accomplished ANYTHING!"
War does indeed suck. It's basically good guys vs. bad guys.
Sure, the good guys could just roll over and die, and there wouldn't be any wars, but would that be for the best? I think not.
0
likeitis
About as funny as a mother bird that won't take back her baby birds after a human hand has touched them. And in some cases, about as fair.
No one? You did say no one, yes? Please name the players, and provide proof of this.
I am thinking its basically the same reason that there were not many bombings by foreign terrorists before 9/11? All I can think of is the WTC bombing of 1993, 8 and a half years before 9/11. It is now about 8 and half years after 9/11. I am thinking the Patriot Act did not help the security situation. But it did change the Big Brother situation.
And there were some embassy bombings. That is U.S. territory technically. Maybe you don't want to remember?
What we do know is that whatever Saddam did, it would have been completely insignificant. In fact, I knew that before we invaded. So did many others.
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likeitis
So what happened to it?
You know, when people say the war was about oil, they do not necessarily mean only about oil, nor do they necessarily mean stealing it.
Not complete idiots. Their ideas of power are just too direct, which is why they basically have none. If you think Bush, or his family, has disappeared from power, think again. He is not in a jail cell is he? I can't even think of one of his scum bucket buddies that is either, despite many of them belonging there. THAT is power. The ability to screw everybody, and walk away scot free. I think Bush got what he wanted, and it was not to be the second coming of Stalin. But it was bad enough.
America out by 2011. Iran must be fuming.
Bizzare. Just plain bizzare. Why on Earth do you imagine Iran feels humilated? I think they might feel intimidated, but humilated? Not following you at all. I can only imagine this is some childish bully thing inside you yearning to get out and finding its way here.
Iran had no love for Saddam. Watching him fall was in many ways a nice show for them to watch. Watching America leave will be nice for them too.
There was no vote to liberate Iraq, except in your whitewashing imagination.
I am still waiting for the domino effect. But as I imagine this through the eyes of ordinary Iraqis, my vision seems to be blurred. I think its tears, of both joy and saddness. Freedom has come, but the price has been very very high, and the reasons, less than gallant.
So how many ordinary Iraqis are now gainfully employed at oil fields? How many running oil drilling companies?
0
SuperLib
I support Bush's decision to remove troops in 2010.
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likeitis
What complete arrogance.
Now back to the question I was pondering: Why are Americans so hated? Hmmmm....
0
Sarge
likeitis: "whatever Saddam did, it would have been completely insignificant"
LOL! Go interview some Kurds, some Shiites, some Iranians and some Kuwaitis, and then get back to us on that one, likeitis.
0
USAFdude
I have a better idea, "sarge": interview some Americans. Ask us how significant Iraq is to the US.
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buddha4brains
Ahhh Sarge the Americans were complicit in their support of Saddam when he was doing his nasty to the Kurds, Shiites and others.
Moderator: All readers, please stay on topic. Saddam Hussein is not relevant to this discussion.
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smithinjapan
"Except to secure Gombei's freedom to say "war never accomplished ANYTHING!""
I have a challenge for you, sarge. Are you ready? You show me ONE SINGLE WAY in which the war in Iraq has given me more freedom and I will stop saying it was unnecessary. As well, I will insist it WAS necessary and the money spent on it was worth it, and the reasons for attacking 100% just. Now, here's the downside for you if you lose: you have to admit that not only was it an illegal invasion, but that it was wrong from the get go, that hundreds of thousands of innocents died, that there were no connections between Saddam and AQ, that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, and that your president was flat out wrong and I have gained no freedoms from the war in Iraq.
Are you man enough to accept it?
Now, there are conditions, of course: You cannot call things like 'a bad man is gone' as "proof" that I am free because of the war in Iraq. Keep in mind that I am living my life where I am living my life in the same way I have been LONG before bush took office and started more two wars, so you have to find a way to prove that he kept it that way, and his gracefulness allowed me to post this challenge. I want definitive proof of your claims that the war in Iraq has given me more freedom to post this message, son... bottom line.
Also keep in mind that refusal to acknowledge this challenge and/or accept it is sign that you cannot back up your claims.
Good luck... I won't hold my breath, though.
Moderator: Readers, please stay on topic. Saddam is not relevant to this discussion.
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smithinjapan
SuperLib: "I support Bush's decision to remove troops in 2010."
Seriously, dude... you need to grow a new line of argument... or get that new gasket I talked about.
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Madverts
Superlib, attacking the radicals for "supporting" Saddam is a weak an argument as ever, depsite the fact I'm with you here....
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ca1ic0cat
There is enough wiggle room in the plan that we can safely say that most of the troops might be out by the deadline. But maybe not. I'm satisfied with this. It gives Obama the press that he is doing what he said during the campaign but leaves enough contingency to adjust things if necessary. Politics as usual, then.
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smithinjapan
Mods: "Moderator: Readers, please stay on topic. Saddam is not relevant to this discussion."
Seriously?? I'm not arguing with you here, but Saddam has nothing to do with Iraq? Perhaps focusing SOLELY on Saddam is taking things off topic, but including him in debate is not off-topic methinks.
Moderator: Too many posters are just rehashing old arguments about Saddam and whether or not he had WMDs. Readers should focus their comments on what is in the story - the current and future situation for Iraq. That makes for a much more stimulating discussion.
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likeitis
Sarge, maybe you misread my post? Please pay attention to the "would have been" part. Iraq had done nasty things in the past, yes, but since the Gulf War, Iraq had been essentially powerless to do anything of significance, and everybody with any sense left knew it.
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SuperLib
The war in Iraq was meant to give Canadians more freedom?
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