Community | March 05, 2009 | 19 comments

Why is Obama leaving 50,000 troops in Iraq?

source: http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=3359

Vierotchka
Porter: Number of troops left in Iraq after Aug '10 throws into doubt the withdrawal itself. Part 1

Gareth Porter says Obama's speech at Camp Lejeaune, which was supposed to explain the President's plan to end the war in Iraq is "not doing what it said it's doing." Porter says the speech creates the, "rationale for a longer term US engagement in Iraq." Responding to Obama pledging a residual force of 35,000-50,000 non-combat troops, Porter says that, "they are combat troops to a great extent... What we're really talking about is what has been referred to as a "rapid reaction force," says Porter, explaining it will consist of, "one, maybe two or more combat brigade teams."

Gareth Porter is a historian and investigative journalist on US foreign and military policy analyst. He writes regularly for Inter Press Service on US policy towards Iraq and Iran. Author of four books, the latest of which is Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road to War in Vietnam.

See Part 2 at:

http://current.com/items/89866655/why_is_obama_leaving_50_000_troops_in_iraq_par...

See Part 3 at:

http://current.com/items/89866673/the_geopolitical_fact_of_iraq.htm

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19 comments // Why is Obama leaving 50,000 troops in Iraq?

  • Juas
    • 0
      Juas  

    • Of course, they will leave troops behind.
      My country, Honduras, has had US troops in our soil since the invasion in 1902.
      So, you really think after so much money spent and so much money to get and some many things to sack that country from, they will leave? No sir. - Not even if Jesus himself is the president, because the problem is not on the president. The problem is on the greedy corporate people that wants the US military to protect their "Interests"

    • 2 years ago
  • current89
    • 0
      current89  

    • Much ado about nothing. This is all being blown out of proportion and not all the facts are coming to light in this video. According to the "status of forces agreement" all troops will be removed by the end of 2011. Furthermore, for those concerned about the residual troops in 2010, Obama said this in his speech...

      "Through this period of transition, we will carry out further redeployments. And under the Status of Forces Agreement with the Iraqi government, I intend to remove ALL U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011. "

      http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/us/politics/27obama-text.html?pagewanted=2&...

    • 2 years ago
  • walski
    • 0
      walski  

    • Soldiers coming home are depressed that the 'NEW AGENDA' is crushing the last of the stock/job market, so some feel, like they are being 'Laid Off' from a well paying, high risk job.

    • 2 years ago
  • MoonLoon
    • 0
      MoonLoon  

    • Barack Obama is sworn to protect U.S. interests. I am proud to see that he is doing his job, as sworn to do. As I have stated many times, he is the consummate politician, created in the same mold as Huey Long, FDR, JFK, Bill and Hill Clinton, Jimmie Carter, George Wallace, Trent Lott, Nancy Pelosi, and the Bushes. I have left out many others, but liberals and conservatives, are totally ignorant for expecting a lying politician, of any stripe, to save us. When Barack sheds his political skin and takes on the armor of honor and service to ALL people, I will then admire him as a man rather than a political flunky.

    • 2 years ago
  • MoonLoon
  • Snuff99
    • 0
      Snuff99  

    • am I mistaken or are there not about 50k troops still in Japan, Germany and Italy not to mention other locations less talked about...

      why are we focused on Iraq who actually needs the troops to keep the peace?

    • 2 years ago
  • RuppiesRule
  • jh64487
    • 0
      jh64487  

    • ...are you all not paying attention? total exit date, 2011.

      i'm sorry if that's not fast enough for you. don't become complacent and let a fascist take and hold power for 8 years next time...

    • 2 years ago
  • samthesixth
    • 0
      samthesixth  

    • I think the we did the world a favor in getting rid of Saddam and his sons, but this nation building stuff is for the birds. Didn't we learn anything in Somalia?

    • 2 years ago
  • Tayllerand
    • 0
      Tayllerand  

    • ITS ALL ABOUT THE OIL ..WHEN ITS GOING TO BE THE DAY THAT YOU PEOPLE ARE GOING TO UNDERSTAND THAT...HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ANYBODY HOME.

    • 2 years ago
  • Hostile
    • 0
      Hostile  

    • We all told you this would happen. He never said he was going to end the war in Iraq. If you thought he would, you were gullible.

    • 2 years ago
  • jh64487
  • Brendan_M
    • Brendan_M  
    • This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
  • samthesixth
  • current89
  • trut
  • clownpuncher
  • Robroy1
    • 0
      Robroy1  

    • I have my doubts, 50,000 troops sure sounds like an army to me. Sure does not sound like a withdrawal to me. What happened Mr.O? A little backpeddling?

    • 2 years ago
  • Vierotchka
    • 0
      Vierotchka  
    • Robroy1:

      It's a beginning - it leaves considerably less than half of the number of troops presently in Iraq. On the other hand, I haven't heard Obama say anything about withdrawing the over 100,000 mercenaries...

    • 2 years ago
  • cerealforeal
  • jh64487
  • current89
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