Gareth Porter: Despite Obama’s Vow, Combat Brigades Will Stay in Iraq

[bigtree]

WASHINGTON, Mar 25 (IPS) - Despite President Barack Obama’s statement at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina Feb. 27 that he had "chosen a timeline that will remove our combat brigades over the next 18 months," a number of Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs), which have been the basic U.S. Army combat unit in Iraq for six years, will remain in Iraq after that date under a new non-combat label.

A spokesman for Defence Secretary Robert M. Gates, Lt. Col. Patrick S. Ryder, told IPS Tuesday that "several advisory and assistance brigades" would be part of a U.S. command in Iraq that will be "re-designated" as a "transition force headquarters" after August 2010.

But the "advisory and assistance brigades" to remain in Iraq after that date will in fact be the same as BCTs, except for the addition of a few dozen officers who would carry out the advice and assistance missions, according to military officials involved in the planning process.

Gates has hinted that the withdrawal of combat brigades will be accomplished through an administrative sleight of hand rather than by actually withdrawing all the combat brigade teams. Appearing on Meet the Press Mar. 1, Gates said the "transition force" would have "a very different kind of mission", and that the units remaining in Iraq "will be characterized differently".

"They will be called advisory and assistance brigades," said Gates. "They won't be called combat brigades."


read more: http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=46264

[Taverner]

1. Fuck

:grr:

[Renew Deal]

2. Actually, this is exactly what Obama said he was going to do.

There's nothing new.

[Octafish]

4. Did he mention it during the general campaign? During the primaries?

Got a link for that? If not, no problem.

I came away with the impression that America would be OUT of Iraq, should Obama become President.

[Renew Deal]

6. Then you weren't paying attention

His campaign website is still up.

"Under the Obama-Biden plan, a residual force will remain in Iraq and in the region to conduct targeted counter-terrorism missions against al Qaeda in Iraq and to protect American diplomatic and civilian personnel. They will not build permanent bases in Iraq, but will continue efforts to train and support the Iraqi security forces as long as Iraqi leaders move toward political reconciliation and away from sectarianism."

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/iraq/#phased-withdrawal

[Octafish]

8. ''...a residual force.''

All the bases and that enormous embassy will require more than a residual force. In fact, it sounds like the job requires several combat brigades. Gee. Several brigades make up a division. And that's a hell of a lot of men and women.

FWIW, I am dissapointed. Obama said he'd end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home. So far, he's moved troops to Afghanistan. That's also stupid and wrong.

[Renew Deal]

10. And all what he promised.

He promise to end combat in Iraq, and bring the troops home. He said it would be a staggered withdrawal. And he said he wanted more troops in Afghanistan.

[bdab1973]

11. We are currently in the process of handing over bases to the Iraqi forces...

but it's not something that will happen overnight...it takes time. I've personally flown the Iraqi survey teams to the various military installations around here...they are very busy.

[bigtree]

9. "Let me say this as plainly as I can:

By August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end."

As we carry out this drawdown, my highest priority will be the safety and security of our troops and civilians in Iraq. We will proceed carefully, and I will consult closely with my military commanders on the ground and with the Iraqi government. There will surely be difficult periods and tactical adjustments. But our enemies should be left with no doubt: this plan gives our military the forces and the flexibility they need to support our Iraqi partners, and to succeed.

After we remove our combat brigades, our mission will change from combat to supporting the Iraqi government and its Security Forces as they take the absolute lead in securing their country. As I have long said, we will retain a transitional force to carry out three distinct functions: training, equipping, and advising Iraqi Security Forces as long as they remain non-sectarian; conducting targeted counter-terrorism missions; and protecting our ongoing civilian and military efforts within Iraq. Initially, this force will likely be made up of 35-50,000 U.S. troops.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-of-President-Barack-Obama-Responsibly-Ending-the-War-in-Iraq/

[BlueJac]

3. What else is new?

Same old shit, different boss. Beware in military industrial complex!

[JoseGaspar]

5. Shameless

They won't even reorganize and make a show of it. They will simply re-label.

[TBF]

7. Different host, same show. n/t