The Iraq War Ain’t Over, No Matter What Obama Says

[occupyeverywhere]

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/10/obama-iraq-eternal/

The Iraq War Ain’t Over, No Matter What Obama Says

President Obama announced on Friday that all 41,000 U.S. troops currently in Iraq will return home by December 31. “That is how America’s military efforts in Iraq will end,” he said. Don’t believe him.

Now: it’s a big deal that all U.S. troops are coming home. For much of the year, the military, fearful of Iranian influence, has sought a residual presence in Iraq of several thousand troops. But arduous negotiations with the Iraqi government about keeping a residual force stalled over the Iraqis’ reluctance to provide them with legal immunity.

But the fact is America’s military efforts in Iraq aren’t coming to an end. They are instead entering a new phase. On January 1, 2012, the State Department will command a hired army of about 5,500 security contractors, all to protect the largest U.S. diplomatic presence anywhere overseas.

The State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security does not have a promising record when it comes to managing its mercenaries. The 2007 Nisour Square shootings by State’s security contractors, in which 17 Iraqi civilians were killed, marked one of the low points of the war. Now, State will be commanding a much larger security presence, the equivalent of a heavy combat brigade. In July, Danger Room exclusively reported that the Department blocked the Congressionally-appointed watchdog for Iraq from acquiring basic information about contractor security operations, such as the contractors’ rules of engagement.

[Swede]

1. Goal post moving,I see.

nt

[AngkorWot]

2. I really couldn't care less if the State Department hired security guards

[occupyeverywhere]

5. We're not talking about "security guards" here

These are former military, in a lot of cases former Special Ops, they know why they are there and what they are supposed to do and they do it with impunity. So, you should care.

[DCBob]

8. They are personnel hired to provide security for diplomats and aid personnel.

That would be expected in such a dangerous place as Iraq.

[occupyeverywhere]

12. It also looks like massacring innocent civilians is in their job description

[elleng]

3. ...

:thumbsdown:

[Tx4obama]

4. 41,000 U.S. troops currently in Iraq will return home by December 31

THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT !!!

Thank you President Obama for keeping your promise to bring Our TROOPS home from Iraq :)

[ncteechur]

6. Troops coming home! Troops coming home!

This is good news. Don't post unsubstantiated BS.

[occupyeverywhere]

9. Wired is BS?

News to me.

[jaxx]

7. LOL another goofy site used as the gospel.

Spencer Ackerman is Danger Room's senior reporter, based out of Washington, D.C., covering weapons of doom and the strategies they're used to implement. :rofl:

[trumad]

10. Wars over to the 40,000 troops coming home

Dumb Op

[Obamanaut]

11. With more than 700 US military sites in 30+ countries, I suspect Iraq

will see some military sites, staffed by military members, remain in that country. For a very long time.

All of these sites vary in size - some very small, others large - but exist they do, and will.