When Barack Obama was a candidate for president in 2008, he promised to pull all U.S. troops out of Iraq. Now, President Barack Obama has announced that is exactly what he is about to do!
In a surprise move, the United States said it is abandoning plans to keep American troops in Iraq past this year’s withdrawal deadline, and will instead pull out completely by January of 2012, effectively ending more than 8 years of U.S. involvement in the Iraq war.
The White House had been torn over sticking with the December 31st withdrawal deadline that was set in 2008, or negotiating a new security agreement to ensure that gains made over the past 8 years and the more than 4,400 American military lives lost were not in vain. There was also strong concern regarding the readiness of Iraq’s security forces and the potential for instability in the region without an American presence.
The U.S. considered leaving several thousand American troops in Baghdad to continue training Iraqi security forces. But it has since confirmed that all American troops will now be pulled out of Iraq, except for approximately 160 active-duty soldiers attached to the U.S. Embassy.
The U.S. will still reserve the right to return to the region in the future should a limited U.S. military training mission be required or requested. But as of now, all American troops are being pulled out of Iraq just as the president promised.
<span>Uh.Huh. Amazing what a Presidential election looming, AND a major voting-block of previous supporters being absolutely PISSED with the President for several MAJOR reasons (and therefore may NOT support his re-election to the fullest) will do to help put that President's *priorities* in better ordder. I've NOT hesitatd to commend the President on his achievements_and they're certainly there for ALL the World to see (ask bin-Laden). But nor have I not critiized him whenever I feel it deserving also (see: some of my previous posts). And THIS is one such occasion. His decision to bring "ALL" of the troops home, NOW, from Iraq is, IMO, motivated by POLITICS, pure and </span><span>and simple. He (and his staff) KNOW that a good chunk of the voting population that EAGERLY supported his election in 2008 are disappointed in him now. NOT for lack of showing </span><span>Class. Intelligence. Civility and Patience. In fact, he's shown ALL of that in spades. He's even shown grit_Backbone when it comes to foreign policy. </span><span></span><span>But no such grit OR *Backbone* has been evident in his handling of our domestic/economic issues, and certainly… Read more »