President "Obama announces full American military withdrawal from Iraq"

[ClarkUSA]

President Barack Obama announced on Friday a nearly complete withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq by the end of the year.

"Today, I can report that as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home from Iraq at the end of this year," Obama said. "After nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over. Over the next two months our troops in Iraq--tens of thousands of them--will pack up their gear and board convoys for the journey home."

Obama affirmed that he has been in talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and that the Iraqi government suported the American withdrawal.
"We are in full agreement about how to move forward," Obama said... The military will keep about 160 servicemen and women in Baghdad to provide security for the embassy there.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-announce-full-troop-drawdown-iraq-164843571.html

Thank you, President Obama. You deserve that Nobel Peace Prize for all you have done to make this world a safer place.

It will be a very Happy New Year for many military families this year. :patriot:

[deacon]

1. He kept his promise and we are drawing down in afghanistan. He's doing great things. n/t

[lillypaddle]

2. K&R

and to those who are snarky about this good news ... WTF?

[gratuitous]

6. Here's WTF

Talk is notoriously cheap. And while the right words were said, one wonders if there won't be some nomenclature legerdemain wherein "troops" are simply called something else, and remain posted in Iraq. The details may provide shelter for quite a number of devils.

But I'm probably just being cynical.

[Gregorian]

3. Good news. Obama soars.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. This is great, BUT,

Does this include the 100,000 mercenaries who currently roam around that country?

[hifiguy]

17. I am certain that it does not

and Iraq will continue to be a bottomless pit into which are thrown billions and billions of dollars for the foreseeable future.

[lunatica]

25. Mercenaries are private soldiers for hire

He is not their Commander in Chief.

Although the State Department uses them as bodyguards on their trips. But they are not part of the government or the military.

[quinnox]

5. How many are being shipped to Afghanistan?

I doubt all of them will be with their families on the new years.

[ClarkUSA]

7. (7/6/11 Reuters) "U.S. Afghanistan drawdown begins...first 10K troops... out by the end of the year"

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama's drawdown in Afghanistan will begin slowly, with the departure of just 800 National Guard troops this summer, followed by some 800 Marines in the fall, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

The details provided by Lieutenant General David Rodriguez, the outgoing No. 2 commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and Pentagon officials offered the most detailed look so far at how the U.S. military intends to carry out the withdrawal ordered by Obama in June....The first 10,000 troops will come home by the end of the year.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/06/us-usa-afghanistan-drawdown-idUSTRE76570Q20110706

The answer to your question looks like --> NONE. Unless you have solid information otherwise.

Yessiree, I'm proud of my double BushCo war-ending President Obama. :patriot:

[leftstreet]

8. Four years of no antiwar movement, no war in the news = hollow victory

No wonder they're making it a Friday news dump

People are more focused on how to buy groceries or save $$ to see a dentist

[ClarkUSA]

10. Speak for yourself. I'll bet military families & their friends as well as informed voters are happy.

I assure you that a majority of liberal Democrats and war-weary independents are paying attention as well.

President Obama's 24/7 critics and Republicans are probably not happy, especially on the heels of the news of Gaddafi's death, because they don't like to give credit to the President for anything.

[leftstreet]

14. Yeah yeah whatever. Just saying it won't help his campaign

No one really gives a shit at this point

War is no longer news

[ClarkUSA]

15. "No one really gives a shit at this point" Again, speak for yourself.

This news will galvanize the liberal Democratic base and silence those who reside in Blame Obamaville on their bullshit "Obama is a warmonger" narrative.

As for your opinion, we'll see how this news affects Democrats and independents in the next round of polling.

[leftstreet]

18. BWAHAHA 'This news will galvanize the liberal Democratic base'

:rofl:

Oh man, thanks for that!

[ClarkUSA]

19. Obama supporters make up a very large majority of the Democratic base. Good news makes us happy.

You wouldn't understand.

[lunatica]

27. wrong place

[HighLowRoller87]

20. You don't speak for me. I do GIVE A SHIT considering my cousin is waiting to start his tour of duty.

[ClarkUSA]

29. Have you spoken to him? How does your cousin feel about this news?

[jpak]

9. but...but...but... he's a warmonger/criminal!!!111111

:rofl:

[Davis_X_Machina]

11. I expect oil prices to soar...

...since this development clearly means Iraq no longer has any.

[SidDithers]

12. K&R...nt

Sid

[Liberalynn]

13. Thank God!

It's finally over.

Thank You Mr. President as well.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. Does that mean that we won? If so, what? If not, why?

[spanone]

21. k&r...

[Jester Messiah]

22. Interested to hear what the contractor situation will be post-pullout.

It's excellent to bring the troops home, but I'd be happier still if I heard that we won't still be pouring in money.

[Scurrilous]

23. K & R

:thumbsup:

[MoonRiver]

24. So happy about this!

:bounce::bounce::bounce:

[sibelian]

26. Perhaps he suspects these troops are about to be needed somewhere else soon.

I hope not.

[Blue Owl]

28. Nothing crushes a Repuke like ending an optional war.

End them all I say.

[Bonobo]

30. I love a good shell game!