US combat operations in Iraq have ended

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38744453/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa

Thank you Obama.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

In other words, all combat troops in Iraq have been re-defined as "transition forces" or "advisers".

Thank you for nothing, Obama.

[Marokai Backbeat]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38744453/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa

Thank you Obama.

MSNBC covered the crossing of the troops into the Kuwait border and spoke to no end with Rachel Maddow (who is actually in Baghdad) as well as several military figures, devoting huge amounts of coverage to it as well as the symbolic crossing of the final group of combat troops.

When I tuned over to Fox, I saw Bill O'Reilly slobbering over Kasich, and then later, Greta talking about some sort of plane show.

Liberal media for you. Talking about actual news.

[Torie]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38744453/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa

Thank you Obama.

I guess the Bush surge worked BRTD. Hey, give the failed ex-president credit for something, OK?

[Хahar 🤔]

Libertas makes a valid point. Is this actually meaningful?

[Torie]

In other words, all combat troops in Iraq have been re-defined as "transition forces" or "advisers".

Thank you for nothing, Obama.

Sure it may be smoke and mirrors, but we are going to exit from Iraq from combat operations in the not so far out future. It's time. And thank God, given the horrific cf in Afghanistan. Our military cannot really handle both at this juncture, nor can we afford it, obviously, absent an in extremis situation, where we just have no real choice.

[Beet]

Yup, the surge worked. All it took was an acknowledgement that a display of force was needed from the US, not just sending in a few cowboys to shoot the place up and get welcomed as libreators tearing down statues. In other words, a touch of soberness, a touch of seriousness to the mission. That's all it took.
Well, that and the terrorists' strategy of going after Iraqi civilians also wasn't exactly too smart either.

[Bo]

I read that U.S. forces would still be able to pursue anti-terrorism activities (aka combat activities) even after the official deadline ended. Thus, this deadline in itself doesn't mean much. However, I do want to thank Obama for withdrawing tens of thousands of our troops from Iraq over the last 18 months.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Libertas makes a valid point. Is this actually meaningful?

Unless you think the US is still waging war in Germany or Japan, yes.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Libertas makes a valid point. Is this actually meaningful?

Unless you think the US is still waging war in Germany or Japan, yes.

Wow, what a horrible comparison, though par for the course for you.

[Free Palestine]

And yet we're still going to be wasting money on Iraq.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

US Hypes Iraq ‘Withdrawal,’ Combat to Continue

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Déjà vu?

[Beet]

Déjà vu?

No, because Obama's not stupid enough to do that kind of ostentatious and dishonest triumphalism.

[King]

Libertas makes a valid point. Is this actually meaningful?

Unless you think the US is still waging war in Germany or Japan, yes.

Wow, what a horrible comparison, though par for the course for you.

Would you support a small force similar to German, Korean, and Japanese permanently occupying a zone within Iraq?

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Libertas makes a valid point. Is this actually meaningful?

Unless you think the US is still waging war in Germany or Japan, yes.

Wow, what a horrible comparison, though par for the course for you.

Would you support a small force similar to German, Korean, and Japanese permanently occupying a zone within Iraq?

I wouldn't support any size force, but 50,000 troops is not a small force.

And the idea that combat has ended and Iraq is now as peaceful as Germany and Japan- utterly laughable.

[SvenssonRS]

I like how the Democrats here think we're actually leaving. People, there's still going to be 50,000 soldiers in Iraq - which is not a small number by any definition. We're still going to be involved in a country we never should have butted into, when we should be leaving entirely and letting history take its course with that country, whichever way it goes.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

Did we win?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Wait, Obama forgot to be a moderate hero?

[Lief 🗽]

I thought Obama broke all his promises and was a DINO?

Also those non-combat troops are leaving Iraq by Dec 31, 2011, so our troop presence in Iraq will be even less than that in Germany and Japan.

[cannonia]

I'll toot my own horn here.  I called it in 2008.

Since we've already won, the arguments against timetables don't matter much anymore.  The next administration will just carry out a phased withdrawal.

[Eraserhead]

Wait, Obama forgot to be a moderate hero?

I wouldn't go that far. 50,000 isn't a paltry amount of troops to still have on the ground. Let's see if he actually gets all of them out of there by the end of next year, then I'll give him some serious credit.

We do have to end that "other war" at some point though...

[Zarn]

Couple of things

1) I agree that 50,000 is a lot... too much.

2) Who would have thought that we would accomplish much more in Iraq by this time than Afghanistan, even with a two year delay?

[King]

2) Who would have thought that we would accomplish much more in Iraq by this time than Afghanistan, even with a two year delay?

I did.  Despite the post-war turmoil, Iraq is a much more stable region than Afghanistan, has economic resources, and a decent amount of literacy.  Unlike the Taliban, Saddam at least left the infrastructure for a real country behind.

People really have no business living in Afghanistan.

[Boris]

12/31/11 is going to be rocking. We'll all be able to take shots in bars and clubs in honor of no US troops in Iraq for the first time since, what, 7th grade?