All US troops out of Iraq by end of year just reported on CNN.

[Lint Head]

[leftstreet]

1. How many private contractors stay?

[Kennah]

2. I'm sorry, did you say private contractors or pirate contractors?

Because the difference between them is, um, er, never mind.

[leftstreet]

3. lol

[Lint Head]

4. Probably all with more to come.

I bet Xe/Blackwater has a presence.

[JoePhilly]

29. And the search for a complaint continues!!!!!

[Poll_Blind]

5. Yep, the question is how many contractors will remain? We've got a $600M+ embassy there and...

...methinks this talk of pulling out troops is telling the truth, technically, while lying about our real presence there.

PB

[pscot]

18. Civilian contractors would be sitting ducks

without a military presence.

[Poll_Blind]

24. I mean mercenaries like Xe/Blackwater. I agree with you about "conventional" contractors, as well.nt

PB

[pscot]

28. I mean mercenaries like blackwater

Iraq may be chaotic, but it's not the 30-years war. It's a private fight. Condottieri Erik Prince will get eaten alive without official cover.

[catabryna]

20. At least the private contractors will no longer receive immunity for their behavior...

they won't be able to act with impunity starting in 2012. The contractors might just decide that the money isn't worth the risk. They won't have the Iraq court system in their back pocket.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

25. Of course they will. They're diplomats. nt

[catabryna]

26. Awwww... come on. A girl can dream can't she? :) nt

[pinto]

6. Good to hear. Contractors presence remains an issue. Role? Who's paying them?

etc, etc :hi:

[myrna minx]

7. This is great news! Any mention of contractors? n/t

[Lint Head]

8. Obama to give a statement at 12:45 eastern time.

[MrScorpio]

9. American private contractors are everywhere in the Middle East

And many other places all over the world.

It's pretty silly just to point out the ones in Iraq.

He's pulled the goddamned troops out of the country, essentially ending Bush's stupid war.

Give the man some credit for at least that.

[deacon]

11. +1000

[pinto]

12. Good point (nt)

[TheKentuckian]

16. Are we paying for them? If so then it is just like having troops in theater but with

higher cost, less accountability, and shakier command and control.

[MrScorpio]

22. Well, that all depends...

They could be working for The US State Department, or for the Oil Companies, some are most likely contracted by the Iraq Government, all doing whatever their specialties are from security, to transportation to construction and more.

Now the contractors who were servicing the troops have either long departed or have been recommitted to some other use altogether.

What will not happen are combat ops with US Forces.

[entropic]

17. Give Obama Credit? Never.

He's a secret Republican.

[polly7]

10. I don't understand how private contractors would be allowed to be armed and

have any sort of control in any foreign nation. What rules are they bound by?

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/17/136357821/as-u-s-military-exits-iraq-contractors-to-enter

May 17, 2011

"A U.S. Army helicopter brigade is set to pull out of Baghdad in December, as part of an agreement with the Iraqi government to remove U.S. forces. So the armed helicopters flying over the Iraqi capital next year will have pilots and machine gunners from DynCorp International, a company based in Virginia.

On the ground, it's the same story. American soldiers and Marines will leave. Those replacing them, right down to carrying assault weapons, will come from places with names like Aegis Defence Services and Global Strategies Group — eight companies in all.

All U.S. combat forces are scheduled to leave Iraq by year's end, but there will still be a need for security. That means American troops will be replaced by a private army whose job will be to protect diplomats.

Already, the State Department is approving contracts, but there are questions about whether it makes sense to turn over this security job to private companies."

[WilliamPitt]

13. Link

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/breaking-president-obama-will-announce-today-complete-drawdown-of-us-troops-in-iraq-to-zero-by-end-of-year/

[Lint Head]

14. Thanks WilliamPitt!

[Fire Walk With Me]

15. Devil in the details...did they say these troops are coming home?

[JoePhilly]

30. yes. nt

[Nye Bevan]

19. McCain=in there for 100 years. Obama=out by 2012.

I never really got that "both parties are the same" nonsense.

[Zorra]

21. This is awesome news. Kudos to President Obama.

Better late than never.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

23. I am cautiously optimistic --

I would like more details before popping the bubbly. What type/size of residual force will be left?, what about contractors?

Like I said, cautiously optimistic.

[SidDithers]

27. K&R...nt

Sid