Military families "delighted" and "ecstatic" at end of Iraq war

[ClarkUSA]

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - Some military families in Tennessee say they're delighted to hear Friday's announcement that all troops will be leaving Iraq by the end of 2011.

"Happy. Happy. Absolutely happy. Ecstatic," said Staff Sgt. Michael Peckham, who is stationed at Ft. Campbell with the 101st Airborne.

Peckham served two deployments in Iraq and is recently back from Afghanistan.

"It's good for the families, and the soldiers that have families. They can stay back here and do some training here," Peckham said... Commander Brian Allen served with the Navy in Iraq. He remembers coming home two weeks before Christmas in 2008. Allen said Friday's news will make for a joyous holiday season.

"It was a great announcement. I'm sure there will be a lot of people happy," Allen said. "For the kids, the families, I don't think you could do it any better than that," he said.

http://www.wsmv.com/story/15771755/military-families-cheer-end-of-iraq-war

I can only imagine the happiness and excitement military families must feel right now as they wait for their loved ones to come home. I hope they remember to vote their interests in 2012.

[tabasco]

1. This veteran is pretty damned happy, too.

:toast:

[ClarkUSA]

5. I'm happy for all of you and for this nation. Thank you for your service, Sir!

I just hope they vote accordingly. Do you think they might turn out in larger numbers for President Obama next year than they did in 2008? With so many coming home, I am hoping OFA targets them in GOTV efforts next year in some way that legal.

I like tabasco sauce, too!

:toast:

[tabasco]

11. The awesome support Obama has given vets has to count for something

The older vets who think Reagan is god will never change their votes, but many younger vets now support the Dems.

[ClarkUSA]

14. You'd think so, right?

<< many younger vets now support the Dems >>

That's good to hear. I sure hope they and their families plan to vote!

[NYC_SKP]

9. Thank you for your service, tabasco.

:thumbsup:

:patriot:

[tblue]

2. Must be hard to wait these last few months.

Ohhhh. Let's bring them home today!!! Safe travels.

[tularetom]

3. See how painless that was?

I'll bet it would go down just as easy in Afghanistan.

Why not try it, President Obama?

[ClarkUSA]

4. "U.S. Afghanistan drawdown begins... the first 10K troops will come home by the end of the year"

The end of the Afghanistan war is going as scheduled:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=803049&mesg_id=803251

[Davis_X_Machina]

6. But Obama doesn't *mean* it.

We've seen before, on any number of policy decisions and administration actions, that the only real and meaningful determinant of success or failure is Obama's inner feelings.

[ClarkUSA]

7. So true. Results don't matter to his 24/7 critics; only their negative interpretation of them do.

[mailman82]

8. I am very Happy!

My son won't have to go for a fifth tour. And he is happy his friends are coming home!

[ClarkUSA]

16. That's great. I'm happy for your whole family and your son's friends.

"fifth tour"!! WOW. Your son must be made of very stern stuff, as they used to say. Please tell him for us that we're thankful and appreciative for his service to this country. I hope you get he and his friends to vote for President Obama next year!

[Number23]

10. This is great but this article from the NY Times really should be addressed, I think

"President Obama’s announcement on Friday that all American troops would leave Iraq by the end of the year was an occasion for celebration for many, but some top American military officials were dismayed by the announcement, seeing it as the president’s putting the best face on a breakdown in tortured negotiations with the Iraqis."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/world/middleeast/united-states-and-iraq-had-not-expected-troops-would-have-to-leave.html?_r=3&hp

"This year, American military officials had said they wanted a “residual” force of as many as tens of thousands of American troops to remain in Iraq past 2011 as an insurance policy against any violence. Those numbers were scaled back, but the expectation was that at least about 3,000 to 5,000 American troops would remain."

Now of course, some here as acting as though Iraq kicked all American troops out which is simply not true. Obama has been steadily drawing down troops since he was sworn in, something he promised to do. He has kept that promise.

The Iraqi decision to stand on their own and reject immunity for American soldiers convicted of crimes sealed the deal. I don't blame the president one bit for saying "okay, if you want to stand on your own and don't want us here, we'll leave." I'm glad the troops are coming home but my question immediately becomes "WHAT IF THE IRAQIS CHANGE THEIR MINDS AND WANT THEM TO STAY??" The president has said they're coming home. There is no turning back now!

[ClarkUSA]

13. Thanks for bringing this up. Maliki couldn't get any political allies to agree to U.S. terms.

What was President Obama to do? ;)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

19. Exactly.

Awhile back, Obama had scaled back the troop number from 150,000 to 50,000, but people here act like all 150,000 are still there and were kicked out by Iraq.

[lunatica]

12. I'm very happy about this

There was no reason to ever have gone in and if they don't want us to stay we should leave.

[Tarheel_Dem]

15. K & R (nt)

[flamingdem]

17. Thank Obama for getting us out

.. all the way out of there

He really does have the back of military families!

[ellisonz]

18. Promise kept.

:woohoo:

[otohara]

20. Do You Hear This Dick ,George, Donald

the troops say it wasn't worth it