Military official: U.S., Iraq have no deal on post-2011 troop levels

[maddezmom]

Source: CNN


updated 11:48 AM EST, Mon October 17, 2011




STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Sticking point regarded legal immunity for U.S. troops who would remain in Iraq
U.S. will continue plan to draw down troops to near zero by year's end
"I think the discussions on numbers are over," U.S. military official tells CNN
Pentagon, NSC spokespersons say the talks are ongoing, have not broken down

Washington (CNN) -- The United States and Iraq have been unable to come to agreement on key issue regarding legal immunity for U.S. troops who would remain in Iraq after the end of the year, effectively ending discussion of maintaining a significant American force presence after the end of 2011, a senior U.S. military official with direct knowledge of the discussions told CNN on Monday.

About 40,000 U.S. troops left in Iraq remained in Iraq as of last week. The United States will continue with its plan to draw down troops with almost no troops remaining by year's end, as was agreed upon with the government of Iraq.

A brigade that originally was scheduled to be among the very last to leave Iraq is being pulled out of the country months ahead of its planned departure, CNN reported Saturday.

When family members inquired why soldiers were returning early, they were told by a military official: "Basically, what's happened ... is that the United States and Iraq have not come to an agreement," according to a CNN reporter who attended the meeting. Additionally, the brigade official told families: "We were over there for a couple of missions. Those missions are finished."


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/17/us/iraq-troop-reduction/?hpt=us_c2

[xchrom]

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[Name removed]

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[Supersedeas]

3. It should be clear that the majority of Iraqis do not want us there.

[pasto76]

4. boo hiss. obama the war monger....blah blah blah

every one of you know that if a REPUBLICAN was in the white house, this war would continue indefinitely. For those of you who havent clued in:

My soldiers can not be shot, blown up or otherwise killed in Iraq, if they are not _IN_ Iraq.

Also, you'll excuse me if I dont hold my breath for your furious activism to transfer into Veterans healthcare issues.