Last Combat Troops Leave Iraq!

[GoodWitch58]

For those of us who have had sons or daughters in Iraq, this is a wonderful day. Our thoughts and prayers are with the 50,000 other members of the military who remain...My son is not an Army combat soldier, thankfully, he serves with the Air Force Special Operations Command, and he did not endure what these young men and women did...however, during the last 7 years, there was no place in Iraq that was safe for any military member and many were in very dangerous situations, just as many are still in Afghanistan.

I am so glad to see these guys cross that border. ..and so appreciative of their courage and willingness to serve.
YouTube- Last U.S. Combat Troops Leave Iraq! Live From Convey

 

[Jdarg]

Wonderful news!

 

[Lynnie]

It is really great news!! We are leaving 50,000 soldiers there for a while, but I love this exit!!

 

[AlphaCrab]

Wonderful news! [Guess wonderful news doesn't trump other non-important issues like mosques and Dr.Laura].

Thanks for posting Glenda!

 

[30ashopper]

Definitely good news. I have a lot of gripes about this administration's policies, but thus far Obama's handling of Iraq and Afghanistan isn't on my gripe list. We started troop draw downs in early 2007.. it's been a long slow road to minimizing our presence there. This is a huge mile stone. Let's hope the Iraqi people take it upon themselves to make the best of the sacrifices we've made to free them from the rein of Saddam Hussein.

 

[scooterbug44]

Great news!

I really hope that Iraq can now move forward and rebuild so that all of this wasn't in vain. Time for them to step up!

 

[Geo]

I know I should be positive and happy. And well- I am for the troops who are coming home. But I can't help but think that semantics are at work. That we committed to an arbitrary date and that since the conditions don't actually warrant meeting that date that we are leaving 50,000 troops there to finish the job but making a faux distinction between the purpose of those who just left and those who remain.

Didn't we invade with 50,000 troops? So the idea that we have the same number of uniformed armed personnel in Iraq as the day we invaded Iraq makes it hard for me to say it and mean it- that combat operations are over and we are out of there.

Someone pls help me feel better about this if you would...

 

[30ashopper]

I know I should be positive and happy. And well- I am for the troops who are coming home. But I can't help but think that semantics are at work. That we committed to an arbitrary date and that since the conditions don't actually warrant meeting that date that we are leaving 50,000 troops there to finish the job but making a faux distinction between the purpose of those who just left and those who remain.

Didn't we invade with 50,000 troops? So the idea that we have the same number of uniformed armed personnel in Iraq as the day we invaded Iraq makes it hard for me to say it and mean it- that combat operations are over and we are out of there.

Someone pls help me feel better about this if you would...

The initial invasion invovled around 145K ground troops and support personel from what I remember. That total peaked during the surge at around 180K. It's been declining since about sept. of 2007.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Geo, I think there truly are some differences in semantics. From my understanding: the troops that left last night were the last of the designated combat troops--their mission/task was combat.

The 50,000 who remain are there in a training, advisory, diplomatic, special ops, and force protection role. Their mission is not combat.

However, there are force protection troops -- translated somewhat loosely into "cops" to protect the U.S citizens whether they are military or civilian employees.

And since as I said before there is no "safe" place in Iraq--everyone who wears a uniform also wears a weapon at some points in time for their self protection. (and the civilians are probably armed at times too).

So we now (as of 31 August) have a new mission/task--it is no longer to engage in combat, but rather to support/train Iraqis and protect US citizens.

 

[Geo]

Geo, I think there truly are some differences in semantics. From my understanding: the troops that left last night were the last of the designated combat troops--their mission/task was combat.

The 50,000 who remain are there in a training, advisory, diplomatic, special ops, and force protection role. Their mission is not combat.

However, there are force protection troops -- translated somewhat loosely into "cops" to protect the U.S citizens whether they are military or civilian employees.

And since as I said before there is no "safe" place in Iraq--everyone who wears a uniform also wears a weapon at some points in time for their self protection. (and the civilians are probably armed at times too).

So we now (as of 31 August) have a new mission/task--it is no longer to engage in combat, but rather to support/train Iraqis and protect US citizens.

Understood. But hasn't our mission there for a very long time to support/train Iraqis and protect US citizens? Which "combat" operations have ceased compared to six months ago.

I thought I heard Rachel Maddow say last night that as of Sept 1, the state department is taking over responsibility from the DOD. If this is true then I can better wrap my brain around something changing other than reducing the numbers of troops.

Maybe I am being too cynical.


Thx for setting me straight on the numbers, Shopper.