BS: US combat troops left Iraq

Subject: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 06:39 PM

In the mother of all convoys, US combat troops are headed south to Kuwait by truck and by air. The 7 1/2 years of the Iraq US struggle will be viewed by many in many different ways. The one agreement we may share is the sense of relief that most of our troops are coming home.

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 06:48 PM

Operation Iraqi Freedom is now over. Operation New Dawn is now underway and is relying upon private armies and contractors to do the security and wet work for the US as the struggle continues by different means and goals.

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 07:12 PM

Same difference really...

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Little Hawk
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 07:59 PM

They may be needing men shortly for Operation Free Iran.

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 08:33 PM

"US combat troops left Iraq"

... so they have stopped trying to Right Iraq?

I'll get me hat....

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: mousethief
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 08:34 PM

It's about fecking time. We never should have been there in the first place. Killing our sons and daughters to stoke the ego of an unelected president. What a crime against the United States.

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Amos
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 08:44 PM

Indeed, Sir Thief; in addition to pandering to war profiteers from Blackwater to Cheny, Inc.



A

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: mousethief
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 08:46 PM

True, Sir Amos. It is a black mark of eternal shame on our Nation. Maybe it's gone forever but I'd like America back.

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 09:27 PM

The United States has wasted taxpayers money and the country's resources on useless wars from Vietnam to the present.

Eisenhower cautioned about control by the military-industrial complex (aided by a spendthrift Congress) shortly after WW2.
The true strength of the United States rested on its industry and innovation; this was respected by the world and did not create military enemies.

Many Americans hoped that Obama's election would stem the descent into bankruptcy, but that was a false hope.

Profligate spending and unnecessary military adventures killed the Roman Empire, as it did several following European powers; now the United States is on the same downward path.

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Ebbie
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 09:38 PM

I have never thought there was anything courageous about Eisenhower's warning. He was leaving office- and left the mess for the next president to clean up.

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 09:43 PM

...and look what happened to him 3 yrs later

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Beer
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 10:02 PM

Have they really left?? Like a 100% all gone.!!

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 10:07 PM

No...there are 50,000 non-combat troops still there.... and despite the 'news', there are still several thousand more to go in the next two weeks. This BIG event was "The last combat brigade" leaving...big trucks and weapons. It was symbolic, but a bit more to do.

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Bobert
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 10:10 PM

What mouser said... Should have never, ever been there in the first place.... And guess what??? With 50,000 troops still there me is concerned that there ain't no good poppin' no corks yet... This thing, as I predicted a long time ago right here in Mudville is gonna get alot messier... What??? 70 unemployed men trying to get jobs and get blown the fuck up??? Hmmmmmmmm??? Where's George now to get up before the press gallery???

Weezle....

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Stringsinger
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 10:17 PM

Noam Chomsky put it accurately.   The US under the Nixon Doctrine and Kissinger
traded expansion for security. Iraq's occupation is expansion. (Manifest Destiny).
The US has a large base there. Practically the size of the Vatican. That country has been
ruined. It is still being taken apart.

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 10:27 PM

bankley, dunno what you mean by '3 yrs later'.

Eisenhower gave his warning in 1961, in his farewell address.
He was succeeded by John F. Kennedy, in turn succeeded by Lyndon Johnson.

Kennedy started the buildup for American action in Vietnam. He had learned absolutely nothing from the French defeat.

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Bobert
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 10:32 PM

100% correct, Stringz...

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 10:50 PM

The remaining 56,000 Military Americans still in Iraq are expected to leave in abut a year.

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Amos
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 10:54 PM

The last COMBAT brigade has left, except for a few hundred logistics and admin mop-uppers. That does not mean all our contractors, trainers, administrative troops, etc. have left.

But it is a huge step ahead. Seven long years, and 4400 US men dead, untold civilians, and gawd knows how many whose lives were ruined or who were driven mad through fear, injury, and traumatic stress.

It is a nutty business, started by a nutty man.


A

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Jeri
Date: 18 Aug 10 - 11:53 PM

The length of Offut AFB is 4.3 sq miles, Vatican City is .17 sq miles (about .4123 x .4123 miles). You could fit 25 Vatican Cities on Offut. Offut is, I believe, a big base, but even so, any 'base' the size of the Vatican City would be fairly dinky.   Also, there is a shitload of installations in Iraq, not 'a base'.

I don't know what's going to happen. There are extremists on one side, rosy-visioned and trusting, that think everything's going to be peachy, and go completely according to plan, and there are extremists on the other side, paranoid and ..., well paranoid, that are sure the world will end, or we're doomed to spend eternity (or at least that part of it we're alive for) in Iraq. I think the sane thing would be to smoosh both sides together. I think the truth is not extreme, and I think people who are completely sure how things will go are mostly close-minded nuts. Me? I think it's quite possible Iraq will fall apart. I don't have any idea what our reaction will be.

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 19 Aug 10 - 03:20 AM

I guess whilst they are at it, they should get TF out of Afganistan. That applies to Britain as well. We may then get a more peaceful world to live in.

Sargent FC Robert Hord said that they (USA) won the war hand down.
What sort of a statement is that. What did they win?

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: mousethief
Date: 19 Aug 10 - 04:34 AM

It's long since time we got out of both places and let the natives handle their own countries. We had no business being in either place, and really screwed it up in Afghanistan by dropping the ball and shifting the lion's share of our forces over to Iraq, where we had no business WHATSOEVER being. The whole thing has been a clusterf*** since 2001. We've killed far too many people, and for what? Unless we're going to annex the g-d places, there's no way we can continue to prop up the government of Iraq, or play freeze tag with the umpty-squat groups of good/bad/indifferent guys in Afghanistan. Nobody can give any timeline that says, "we need to be there until XX" to make us stay there any longer than last Tuesday. We've done enough damage already. Time to come home.

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 19 Aug 10 - 06:27 AM

"Profligate spending and unnecessary military adventures killed the Roman Empire, as it did several following European powers; now the United States is on the same downward path. "

There is a gentleman who predicts that the US will implode by 2030 - 2050. The economists say he doesn't understand Economics. He agrees, and he neither wants to, nor cares - he is a historian! :-)

When the interest payments on the nation's debt due to financing deficits with loans exceeds the money spent on defence, the country always implodes. This is the real reason that the US has to get out of Iraq! He has figures from several empires back to the 1500s starting with the Hapsburgs in Spain. The real reason that Russia pulled out of Afghanistan was not that "democracy beat communism", but that the lines crossed (Don't cross the Streams! Why? That would be bad!) sorry...

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Aug 10 - 11:30 AM

Some 50,000 troops in non-combat units remain (but will gradually be cut down, goal Oct. 11, 2011).
The State Department is now in charge, according to NY Times lead article today.
There are also 6000-7000 security contractors.
Sone 2400 civiliand will work in the Baghdad and other offices.
The State Department plans to double the security guards to some 7000 defending five fortified compounds around the country, operating reconnaissance drones, operating radar and staffing quick reaction forces.

Two new security outposts at $100 million each will be used to head off possible confrontations between the Iraqi army and Kurdish forces.

Sounds very expensive, and possibly unlimited "expenses."

Subject: RE: BS: US combat troops left Iraq
From: Amos
Date: 19 Aug 10 - 02:02 PM

I think the truth is not extreme (Jeri)

THis is probably the wisest seven-word expression in this whole forum.

Snogs to Jeri for that!

A