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War, War, War See other War, War, War Articles Title: US 'to announce full withdrawal of troops from Iraq' Washington is all but certain to abandon plans to keep several thousand US troops in Iraq beyond the end of the year, terminating its deployment nearly nine years after the invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. US soldiers and Iraqi police carry out their last patrol along the streets of Khan Bani Saad: Iraqis to celebrate withdrawal of US troops Senior administration and Pentagon officials are now reportedly resigned to the fact that all remaining American troops will leave Iraq except for about 160 soldiers attached to the US embassy Despite ongoing concerns about the ability of Iraq's security forces to prevent renewed instability and violence, the Obama administration has according to reports in the US decided that all but 150 to 200 US troops of the remaining 40,000 will go home under the terms of a 2008 agreement. The key issue has been the failure of the Iraqi parliament to provide a guarantee of immunity from prosecution to US troops that stay. US officials had assumed that the earlier deal with the Iraqis would be renegotiated to allow 4-5,000 American forces to remain in a training role beyond the deadline of Dec 31, 2011. But Iraq's leadership has been divided on the issue. Some have argued the further training and US help was vital, particularly to protect Iraq's airspace and gather security intelligence. Others, particularly the Iranian-backed Sadrists, have deeply opposed any American troop presence. Shiite militiamen have threatened attacks on any American forces that remain past the deadline. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has told US military officials that he does not have the votes in parliament to provide immunity to the American trainers, as Washington has demanded. The official line from the White House and the Pentagon is that discussions with Iraq were "ongoing". But senior administration and Pentagon officials are now reportedly resigned to the fact that all remaining American troops will leave Iraq except for about 160 soldiers attached to the US embassy. There will still be a massive American diplomatic presence, while about 5,000 security contractors and personnel will be tasked with helping protect American diplomats and facilities. The near total troop withdrawal will raise fears that security gains made in the past few years. Sen John McCain, the ranking Republican on the Senate armed services committee, accused the Obama administration of "badly handling" negotiations with the Iraqis. "There is a renewed risk of greater violence and renewed Iran penetration in southern Iraq, and a possible return to sectarian conflict," he told CNN. In an interview on Saturday night, Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, said that giving US troops immunity from prosecution was "impossible". But he has accepted the need for his troops to be trained on weaponry, including F16 jets and Abrahams tanks, that the Iraqi military is currently buying from the US. Saad Muttalibi, a senior official in his ruling State of Law party, said formal negotiations had yet to begin on the issue. But he said it was difficult to get agreement on any measure in Iraq's current fractured parliament, let alone something as controversial as immunity for American soldiers. A refusal to allow American troops to stay in the country will be regarded as a victory for Iranian-backed Shia radicals, such as the Sadrists, who occupy a large bloc of seats and are in an uneasy alliance with State of Law. Mr Muttalibi said American troops would have immunity from prosecution over accidents associated with training but not off-base. "As chief commander Mr Maliki has accepted that as we are in the process of purchasing military hardware we will require trainers but how this is done is not in the government's jurisdiction. It has to be stated by parliament," he said. He said that the numbers of troops was low hundreds rather than the thousands originally envisaged by some US military commanders. Comments: caribbeancritic This report is far too optimistic. Iran is being set up for yet another bull shit war based on false flag information. This will put the withdrawal beyond what is supposedly the central thesis of the report. There is currently a huge US military build up in the region in readiness for the next war. Time2gogo According to US soldiers serving in Iraq, the opposite is happening. More soldiers are being deployed, and on being asked when they would be coming home,they said not for a very long time.One of them was on his 4th tour of duty and had not been home for a year.He had a week to spend with his family and then it was back to Iraq which is far from tamed yet. And as for only 5000 contractors staying.... that'S all they can get into the green zone maybe,but then you have all the other bases around Baghdad. I would take the US statements with a pinch of salt.Obama has yet to keep a promise. keyo Lies, lies, lies, the US government will say this and maybe withdraw a few, but its an illusion, the psychopathic neocons have no intention of leaving. Only one politician is truly believed by the AMERICAN TROOPS when he says that as COMMANDER IN CHIEF he will bring them home immediately, that's DR. RON PAUL and That's why they (the troops) support him the more than all the other candidates put together, financially, that is PhilCane on twitter US set to announce that 40,000 of the remaining troops in Iraq are to be withdrawn due to Iraq domestic politics t.co/RgRKqe29 squawk7500ident Well, that was a few trillion dollars well spent, eh, lads? Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Tatarewicz (#0)
If it truly happens (troop withdrawal), it is because of Ron Paul. The status quo is shaken to their core. The Kenyan is trying desperately to keep from being unemployed. It is far too late to avoid 26 weeks of unemployment compensation. The PTB's world is coming to an end thank God!
Then again, some might find it prudent to remove 40,000 of our men from the line of fire should the IDF decide to take the direct flight to Natanz and other points of interest.
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