COMPLETE BULLSHIT- The U.S. To Maintain an Average of 100,000 Troops in Iraq for Fiscal Year 2010

[Orwellian_Ghost]

Remember That Gradual Withdrawal from Iraq? Yeah, Not Gonna Do That for a Couple Years.

CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS – APPROPRIATIONS
June 9, 2009 – 12:26 p.m.
U.S. Troop Levels in Iraq to Outpace Afghanistan Through Most of 2010
By Josh Rogin, CQ Staff

The United States will maintain an average of 100,000 troops in Iraq for fiscal 2010, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates testified Tuesday.

The estimate is part of the war funding section of the administration’s fiscal 2010 budget request, as detailed in the written testimony of Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, before the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.

Between 35,000 and 50,000 troops will remain after August 31, 2010, Mullen wrote, meaning force levels much higher than 100,000 will be present in Iraq for the first half of 2010, in order for Gates’ average to bear out.

Mullen acknowledged that despite a renewed focus on Afghanistan, “our residual footprint in Iraq will remain larger than in Afghanistan well into 2010.



http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/43427

[Hoopla Phil]

1. Bring our troops home NOW!!!

[dflprincess]

11. Unfortunately, they'll probably get sent to Afghanistan

where we also have no busines being.

[SammyWinstonJack]

43. Where we never had any business being, for that matter.

x(

[shadowknows69]

87. Already happening. I know troops families whose spouses are being directly redeployed

No break in between.

[moodforaday]

73. Well, now.

This is how you play chess, you see. S-l-o-w-l-y.

[stray cat]

2. 35,000 to 50,000 left in Iraq a year from now - that sounds right on target

[Orwellian_Ghost]

4. Please spare me

the, uh, change?

US occupation grinds on.

Check out how they are re-branding the meaning of "combat brigades."

[saigon68]

29. As long as amerika pays for sadam's old army

The real meaning of Betrayus "SURGE" amerika will be there in large numbers to prop up the Puppet Government of Hooligans

Throwing cash at a defeated, hopeless unemployed army has worked to reduce violence. It did nothing to solve the etnic and religious tensions that are modern Iraq. The troops (yours and my children) need to be there as a deterent to the inevitable civil war between these factions.

Don't count out Sadr and his al-mahdi army ilk, they are ready to "get it on" as soon as we finally leave (see photo below)

[TheWatcher]

18. Spoken like a "Good American."

[Bandit]

37. Isn't the fiscal year June 2010 to June 2011?

All Troops will be withdrawn in nineteen months, well that is a LIE. "One Brigade a Month" well that is a LIE as well., I am afraid Mr Ponzi oops I mean Obama fooled many of us.

[SammyWinstonJack]

44. LOL! And I bet he's damn proud of fooling many of us.

Mr Ponzi :spray:


Also, it seems many aren't displeased at having been so mislead. Imagine that? :shrug:

[Just-plain-Kathy]

57. Many here believe in party before country. It's very sad. ..n/t

[Mattylock]

59. FY 2010

Federal fiscal year 2010 is October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010.

[votingupstart]

3. thats quite a pullout from iraq

oh wait... its not.... have i been fooled?????

[guardian]

5. We need Cindy back in the news. N/T

[snappyturtle]

6. K&R THIS REALLY BOTHERS ME! I want my nephew home NOW! nt

[lib2DaBone]

7. Looks like were digging in? Oil Wars, Torture Photos..Secrecy...

Who knows what to believe any more.... The media lies, the government lies..

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The U.S. is embarking on a $1 billion crash program to expand its diplomatic presence in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan, another sign that the Obama administration is making a costly, long-term commitment to war-torn South Asia, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

[napoleon_in_rags]

8. Is it contrary to what he said?

Didn't he say 16 months from nomination with a small residual force? I'm totally against any occupation myself, but I am curious whether this is the breaking of a campaign promise or not.

[TheWatcher]

19. 16? I thought it was 23.

And then the Army Chief got in the newz last week and said we were prepared to "be there for 10 years" if needed.

Oh I just get SO CONFUSED by all the Change.

Maybe what was meant was that the story would get changed.

OFTEN.

[anaxarchos]

20. A lot of Orwell going on...

He said combat troops would be out. The combat brigades have been renamed ("training brigades", etc.). He said "small residual force", but 50,000 is not "small". More importantly, they have privatized what used to be called support troops. Most of the 50,000 are combat units supported by upwards of 100,000 to 150,000 contracters who don't get mentioned often. Even that is contingent on things going "our way".

Call it what you like... It ain't peace... it's a piece of Iraq.

[EFerrari]

21. Rebranding combat brigades. I remember that story. n/t

[harun]

39. +1

[Winterblues]

41. I think he changed it to nineteen months

Fiscal 2010 runs from June 2010 to June 2011. Figure out from Jan 20th 2009 to June 2011. I would say that was a bit over nineteen months. He also said Beginning on "Day One" he would begin withdrawing "One Brigade a Month" Five months have now gone by and not a single Brigade has been withdrawn..Only fourteen months left to get all troops out of Iraq..It doesn't look to me like he is going to be even close to his goal.

[latebloomer]

9. I wish I could say

I'm surprised.

[kestrel91316]

10. Get those troops home NOW so they can protect the US against

a VERY REAL THREAT!!!!!!!!

[deaniac21]

12. The President will have them out by the end of the month.

[SpartanDem]

13. It's this just reaffirming the current schedule?

[TaxCollector]

14. The United States is bankrupt

It can no longer afford to maintain an army or a navy or to take an active role in world affairs. The money is gone. It is time for the wealthier nations of the world to pick up the ball and run with it. We just can't afford it anymore.

[timeforpeace]

15. meet the new boss...

same as the old boss...

[NYC Democrat]

106. no we are not going to revert to your retarded isolationist fantasy

[QC]

16. How hopeful and changealicious! n/t

[TheWatcher]

17. Change You Can Make Believe In.

[Darth_Ole]

22. I really don't see what in this story contradicts what Obama has already said.

35,000-50,000 this time next year with all troops (including non-combat) out by the end of 2011. The 100,000 estimate is for the budget's sake at the beginning of FY 2010. What is the surprise about?

Besides, Obama continually spoke about a contingency force remaining at the end of 2010 during the campaign. Whether you agree with that policy or not, it shouldn't come as a shock.

The "meet the new boss" and "complete bullshit" rhetoric from some folks around here is coming from people who either weren't paying attention to Obama or people who didn't think Obama meant it when he said there would still be forces there when the combat troops were out.

Bad policy or not, this is nothing new. I knew what I was getting when I voted for Obama.

[TheWatcher]

23. Would you care to address why the Army Chief said we were prepared to be there for 10 years?

Perhaps to condition the Public to the idea when 2012 comes and goes, and we are still there?

I'd like to know what the fuck THAT was all about.

I had to break it to you friend, but we aren't leaving.

The troops need to be brought home.

THEY NEVER NEEDED TO BE THERE TO BEGIN WITH.

And the war appears to be EXPANDING in Afghanistan.

If 2012 comes and goes, and we are still there, will you tell us to be "patient", and watch the "game of chess" for another four years?

And before you try to label me as something I am NOT, NO WE WOULD NOT BE BETTER OFF with the OTHER CRIMINALS.

But at least they are overt about what they do, instead of killing you with kindness.

Look, you mean well, and I am NOT your enemy because I disagree with what is going on.

But sooner or later, we are going to HAVE to address the fact that perhaps, just PERHAPS, that NEITHER side is on OUR side.

[magellan]

24. The thing that cinches it for me

...is how the Iraqis have consistently said they want us out. They trust us only a little more than the militias (i.e. we're only slightly better than armed gangs in their view), they have virtually no faith in our ability to bring security to their lives, and they believe the US is running the show -- not their own government. Our presence there does more harm than good. We're the cork in a bottle that is going to have to be opened at some point, unless we plan on staying there forever.

The predicament is Bush**'s fault. There's no good reason to perpetuate his stupid crime. What we should do is get the hell out of there and continue the work Obama started with his speech in Cairo, put positive action behind the words. THAT is the only way to diminish the threat of terrorism.

But the way things are, I have no doubt whatsoever we'll still be in Iraq many years from now. There are too few honest brokers in DC.

[votingupstart]

27. that NEITHER side is on OUR side

interesting concept isnt it.

[blindpig]

34. Who cares what he said.

He said a lot of things, in nebulous speeches, in policy papers, by his choice of employees. Just believe your eyes.

The American people want out. The Iraqi people want us out. But Obama is listening to other voices, to those who profit from empire.

k&r

[bvar22]

40. Nice summation.

It REALLY is that simple.

You can spin it any way you want, but the simple truth is:

"The American people want out.
The Iraqi people want us out.
But Obama is listening to other voices,
to those who profit from empire."

[SammyWinstonJack]

46. And when his one term is up, he'll profit from empire right there with the rest.

[kjackson227]

48. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

This is EXACTLY what President Obama said, in addition to "being as careful getting out, as we were careless going in". It's amazing how some can completely misconstrue what the man has said he was going to do. As always some didn't fully listen and/or ignored what he said during the campaign.

[TheWatcher]

49. And some have IGNORED how many times the DATE has changed.

6 months, 13 Months, 16 months, 23 Months.

And then there is what the Army Chief said. (Which no one will address, apparently)

But I guess it's all part of that "Masterful" Chess Game he's playing.

[kjackson227]

60. Spin this however you want, but the fact still remains that Obama...

has not veered off course from what he stated during the campaign. Looks like we have our very own Faux News right here at DU.

[T Wolf]

54. It's Vietnam-era "advisors" all over again. Those of us old enough to remember that

shit-storm have been through this before.

You say po-tay-toe and I say po-tah-toe, but the taters are still killing and being killed.

[SammyWinstonJack]

45. !

:spray:

[leftstreet]

25. But, we must bring the Poppies and Pipelines their Freedoms!

K&R

[HamdenRice]

26. The first two words of your subject line are an excellent description

of the substance of your post and its relationship to that headline. The article cited refers to 35,000 - 50,000 -- ie exactly the prudent drawdown that was promised.

[readmoreoften]

51. "Prudent draw down"? What a joke. You obviously have no contact with active duty troops.

The OP is correct. Combat brigades are being renamed. Contractors are being substituted for non-combat troops (i.e. technical and communications support in the FOBs) and as many troops as ever are being stoplossed.

We are doing nothing less than establishing a permanent presence in the Middle East. And Obama is as much a part of that as Bush. All troops outside the FOBs on foreign soil are combat troops. You can give it the Orwellian name of "peacekeeping" if you like, but it's still combat.

[HamdenRice]

89. My nephew just came back alive from Iraq, thank you.

But that has nothing to do with what a crock of shit the OP is.

[Vidar]

28. Hell of a withdrawal, Obama!

[Clear Blue Sky]

30. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...nt

[cali]

31. Unacceptable.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

32. This is the plan laid out in February -

The plan will withdraw most of the 142,000 troops now in Iraq by the summer of next year, leaving 35,000 to 50,000 to train and advise Iraqi security forces, hunt terrorist cells and protect American civilian and military personnel. Those “transitional forces” will leave by 2011 in accordance with a strategic agreement negotiated by President George W. Bush before he left office.

“Let me say this as plainly as I can,” Mr. Obama said. “By August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end.”

He added: “I intend to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011. We will complete this transition to Iraqi responsibility, and we will bring our troops home with the honor that they have earned.”
Mr. Obama presented his plan at the same base where, in April 2003, with American forces nearing Baghdad, Mr. Bush declared that “we will accept nothing less than complete and final victory.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/washington/28troops.html

Personally I think all troops should come home now - but saying that Obama has changed course is not an HONEST statement - he is doing exactly what he said he would do.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

33. Just as Vietnam was Johnson's war and became Nixon's war, Iraq is now Obama's war.

Every injury and death, American or Iraqi, is on his head.

[Hubert Flottz]

35. I knew that the US couldn't or wouldn't just walk away...

from the quagmire that Bush, Cheney, Halliburton and the neocons created in Iraq, no matter what anyone promised.

[avaistheone1]

61. It's way too profitable to just walk away. There are too many fingers in the pie.

Americans are so stupid. We will keep paying for this nonsense.

[pleah]

36. Wars for oil will never die. n/t

[nichomachus]

38. Let's not forget the 250,000 mercenaries -- an increase of 30 percent n/t

[Mari333]

42. kick for outrage

[ManiacJoe]

65. You mean 12000, right?

Or has "mercenaries" been redefined to include the construction workers, truck drivers, etc?

[redqueen]

67. Yes, "mercenaries" now includes any and all contractors.

[ManiacJoe]

70. When did that happen?

[redqueen]

72. No idea.

Perhaps some have always used the term that way.

[billyoc]

69. Yes, mercenary truck drivers that free up a soldier for combat are, of course, mercenaries.

[ManiacJoe]

71. That is a stretch.

Eventually DU is going to need is own dictionary for these new definitions.

[t0dd]

47. Yet another broken campaign promise.. Change you can make believe in is right.. nt

[progressoid]

50. We're going to be there way beyond 2010.

There's no way we're out before the 2012 elections. The administration can't afford to be responsible if something horrible should happen after we leave.

Besides the political ramifications if something should go south after we leave, there is the other issue of us completely fucking that country up. Regardless of how wrong the war was, and the utter incompetence of the Bush/Neocon leadership, we as a nation are now responsible for Iraq's short term future. Powell was right, you break it, you buy it. And we did more than break it, we destroyed it.

[Seen the light]

52. Nothing Obama does surprises me anymore

Politically, he's as scared and weak as they come when it comes to doing things that he believes will cost him a single vote in 2012.

[SammyWinstonJack]

53. Then he should have remained a Senator.

x( Or maybe he doesn't plan on running for a second term.

[earth mom]

64. I don't think Obama is going to get a second term-not with all the crap he is pulling.

Gore/Kucinich 2012!!! :woohoo:

[redqueen]

68. Wow.

[earth mom]

91. Too bad if you don't like it. nt

[redqueen]

98. Whether I like it isn't the issue. The issue is Gore was treated the same way.

He was a corporatist whore, remember? That's why Nader did so well that year.

There was 'no difference' between Bush and Gore.

[earth mom]

99. The proof is there with Obama so quit living in denial & drumming up excuses. nt

[SemiCharmedQuark]

93. People said the exact same things about Gore.

"He's a corporatist!" "He's the same as Bush!"

That worked out swell, didn't it?

[redqueen]

95. Yeah... deja vu, huh?

I'm getting the worst feeling from all this.

[LWolf]

55. I never thought he would.

Actions speak louder than words, and he kept voting to continue the war all the way up until he was campaigning on being "against the war from the beginning," when he conveniently couldn't vote to prove it.

Peace demonstrations need to move to Pennsylvania Avenue.

[chimpymustgo]

56. Good point.

[actualproof]

58. Oh, so now he was for the Iraq war from the beginning. That is rubbish.

And who wouldn't VOTE to fund the troops now that the mission had been set and there was no way immediate way to change it. It's not their fault, they are just following orders -- misguided as they were.

Obama also voted against the SURGE, indicating his displeasure at the escalating the Iraq War (as opposed to funding an existing effort). He tooks his lumps for that in the campaign, too.

If all the troops are not out at the end of 2011, then you can raise hell. Until that moment, let the President do his job.

[LWolf]

62. Who wouldn't VOTE to fund the troops now that the mission had been set?

Those who actually WERE against the war from the beginning.

Dennis Kucinich, to start with. There were others. And yes, there was a way to "change it." Stop funding it. That's where change should have begun.

When I see the President "doing his job" the way it ought to be done, I'll support him in that.

When he fails to do the job he should be doing, I damn well will NOT "let him" get away with it without raising hell.

I've been raising hell about the bogus war on terror since before Obama even became a Senator, let alone POTUS. I'm not going to stop until the war is no more.

[earth mom]

63. I remember saying that we were in for Endless Wars during the primaries...

:grr:

[LWolf]

90. No one wanted to hear it. nt

[madrchsod]

66. the muslim world just realized the president can`t be trusted...

one day he makes a world changing speech. a few days later the speech was nothing but hollow words.

remember ---2010 is an election year.

[Butch350]

82. You guys were just waiting to pop out of the woodwork..

weren't cha?

[madrchsod]

92. no i`ve been up front about what i see wrong since 1965

just because he`s a democratic does`t mean i have to agree with everyone of his policies or his actions.

[SpartanDem]

74. FY 2010 starts in Oct 09 dumbass

[yodoobo]

75. This is exactly what Obama promised he would do

leave about 50,000 non-combat troops there.

[shadowknows69]

76. The American Empire. Securely in place in Iraq and coming to a Pakistan near you!!

We (The People) are such suckers. Our country is a resource grabbing militaristic dictatorship and nothing better.

[Xenotime]

77. Is this * we are talking about?!? I thought we were brining everyone home?

[maryf]

78. Bring them HOME NOW, all of them from everywhere

And take fucking care of them when they are home...K&R

[tomm2thumbs]

79. trying to keep the unemployment numbers from going thru the roof I suspect -

every action has a reason - a good one or not. That is my guess in this case

[Butch350]

80. Just exactly what did you think...

When the sign on the battleship read, "Mission Accomplished". Here's what it meant.

It meant we got our foot in the ME door - "Missioned Accomplished" and we ain't leaving, anythime soon.

[Bluebear]

81. The O-man likes tuna melt sandwiches!

And Michelle has AWSUM arms!

[Kaleva]

83. Meanwhile, Obama's job approval rating keeps going up.

[Fire1]

84. Deep, ain't it? n/t

[cagesoulman]

85. They were never fucking going anywhere. Even I knew that the politicians were lying about that.

Same shit, different White House.

[pasto76]

86. YES, this is CHANGE

if dum dum were still president, or McCain, there would be ZERO reduction. If McCain had been a serious contender, Bush admin would never have signed SOFA.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

97. The reality

Obama’s withdrawal is nothing short of a colonial Occupation of Iraq.

[liberalpragmatist]

88. Um, this is exactly what he outlined in February

35-50,000 residual troops by the end of the year, all troops out by 2011 in accord with Iraq's Status of Forces Agreement.

Personally, I still think it's too dragged out, but there's no change here from what he outlined in Feburary (although his February outline was a shift from a 16-month timeframe he campaigned on to a 19-month timeframe).

[Orwellian_Ghost]

96. Remember this?

Obama Bill Sets Date For Troop Withdrawal
Candidate Goes Further Than Rivals

By Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 31, 2007; Page A04

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, one of the most prominent Democrats in the 2008 presidential field, proposed for the first time setting a deadline for withdrawing troops from Iraq, as part of a broader plan aimed at bolstering the freshman senator's foreign policy credentials.

Obama's legislation, offered on the Senate floor last night, would remove all combat brigades from Iraq by March 31, 2008. The date falls within the parameters offered by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which recommended the removal of combat troops by the first quarter of next year.


"The days of our open-ended commitment must come to a close," Obama said in his speech. "It is time for us to fundamentally change our policy. It is time to give Iraqis their country back."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/30/AR2007013001586.html

[mmonk]

94. Colonialization is hard and expensive.

[Echo In Light]

100. But this is America, where people don't give a fuck, and passively accept being fucked over

...so, yeah, the War Machine keeps turning.

Why would the powers that be stop when they realize the citizenry obediently accepts any and everything 'they' want, and NEVER poses ANY substantial threat to their aims?

[maryf]

101. We've been so well programmed

and trained to not think or question; it takes a truly concerted effort on anyone's part to start to critique and analyze the machine. Just like the propaganda machine repeating the lies, we gotta keep repeating the truth when we see/hear it...

[Echo In Light]

103. The programming is wanted, accepted, exalted, chosen. Weak willed cowards cling desperately to it

...and eventually get all they deserve, and then some

[maryf]

104. for some...

too lazy and comfortable; I think many are in very dire straits themselves, these might welcome the truth...

[Individualist]

102. DLC loves the military industrial complex

[Holly_Hobby]

105. From October 2, 2007 speech in Chicago:

...

The first thing we have to do is end this war. And the right person to end it is someone who had the judgment to oppose it from the beginning. There is no military solution in Iraq, and there never was. I will begin to remove our troops from Iraq immediately. I will remove one or two brigades a month, and get all of our combat troops out of Iraq within 16 months. The only troops I will keep in Iraq will perform the limited missions of protecting our diplomats and carrying out targeted strikes on al Qaeda. And I will launch the diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives that are so badly needed. Let there be no doubt: I will end this war.

...

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/10/02/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_27.php

[maryf]

107. And some still hope for change...

Unbelievable...Thanks for this source..