Goodbye, Iraq

Posted on September 6, 2011 at 5:23 pm by Bob Cesca

I think we can safely say the U.S. involvement in the Iraq War is over.

Fox News is reporting that the Obama administration plans to withdraw all but about 3,000 of the more than 40,000 U.S. troops currently in Iraq, a move that is consistent with President Barack Obama’s repeated promises to end the war in Iraq. Sources told Fox that the number of troops begrudgingly approved by the military — 10,000 troops — would be cut even further, likely allowing the U.S. to carry out mostly training missions.

The blowback, of course, will last for decades and whichever Democratic president is in office will be blamed for it.

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  • http://twitter.com/Scootabuddha Vincenzo T.

    Yes, but I’m curious: how many mercenaries will remain?

    • http://www.osborneink.com OsborneInk

      Careful. Blackwater mercenaries are a very different thing than rent-a-cops pulling base security. Not that I disagree with your central premise, but in the final analysis it will be up to the Iraqis whether and how many mercs stay in-country. Not so for gate guards.

      • http://twitter.com/Scootabuddha Vincenzo T.

        Yes, it’s the BlaXewater-type privateers that I’m referencing. I don’t lump all civilian contractors into the “mercenary” basket. I really am curious about the numbers.

  • jjasonham

    One thing that caught my eye from that article:

    “While no Americans died in Iraq last month, a first since the start of the war, the U.S. faced a steep rise in casualties in recent months, with some analysts suggesting the attacks could be a result of the public pressure the U.S. was exerting for a new SOFA.”

    First time since the start of the war? Wow.

  • http://www.osborneink.com OsborneInk

    The odd addendum here is that Nouri al-Maliki has been asked many times whether his government needed those 10,000 troops and never given a straight answer. What you’re seeing in this announcement is an exasperated response to Iraqi dithering.

    • muselet

      That’s what it sounds like to me, too.

      –alopecia

  • muselet

    Just came across this. The White House says there are no plans to cut US military personnel in Iraq to 3000.

    Fox News or the White House. Who to believe, who to believe?

    –alopecia