MSNBC Breaking - all combat troops exiting Iraq. Watch on NBC or MSNBC. Rachel's there, too. nt

[gateley]

[eleny]

1. Watching now

Richard Engel, embedded with troops in a convoy, is reporting live from about 30 miles from the border.

Rachel is in the Green Zone and will be reporting later.

[gateley]

5. I'm getting chills and kind of teary. And who better to cover it than Richard

Engel, and I'm so glad we'll be hearing from Rachel. CNN isn't covering it. I feel like I'm witnessing history.

[rufus dog]

2. Great news nt

[deminks]

3. 7 years too late, but thank the stars we are leaving.

[derby378]

We're not really LEAVING, y'know...

We've got "support" troops who will continue the occupation until the next total solar eclipse in Texas.

[gateley]

7. Understood. The OP states "combat" troops. nt

[EFerrari]

10. Does anyone know how many combat troops

have been re-designated?

[gateley]

11. Saw on Subdivision's post that eleny said 50,000. I'm looking forward to hearing

Rachel's coverage -- she always seems to answer most of my questions.

[deminks]

14. Keith and Rachel just said 50,000 "advisers" will remain

[EFerrari]

18. Thank you. That's what I found, too, in this Guardian article from 8/4:

The US isn't leaving Iraq, it's rebranding the occupation

For most people in Britain and the US, Iraq is already history. Afghanistan has long since taken the lion's share of media attention, as the death toll of Nato troops rises inexorably. Controversy about Iraq is now almost entirely focused on the original decision to invade: what's happening there in 2010 barely registers.

That will have been reinforced by Barack Obama's declaration this week that US combat troops are to be withdrawn from Iraq at the end of the month "as promised and on schedule". For much of the British and American press, this was the real thing: headlines hailed the "end" of the war and reported "US troops to leave Iraq".

Nothing could be further from the truth. The US isn't withdrawing from Iraq at all – it's rebranding the occupation. Just as George Bush's war on terror was retitled "overseas contingency operations" when Obama became president, US "combat operations" will be rebadged from next month as "stability operations".

But as Major General Stephen Lanza, the US military spokesman in Iraq, told the New York Times: "In practical terms, nothing will change". After this month's withdrawal, there will still be 50,000 US troops in 94 military bases, "advising" and training the Iraqi army, "providing security" and carrying out "counter-terrorism" missions. In US military speak, that covers pretty well everything they might want to do.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/aug/04/us-iraq-rebranding-occupation

[deaniac21]

25. Party pooper.

[EFerrari]

28. I'm sorry, I didn't write the headline.

I'm happy whenever anyone comes home.

[deminks]

26. We had 153,000 troops there during the 'surge'

While I wish we were not there at all, any draw down is a good draw down. The alternative is not acceptable. IMHO.

[EFerrari]

29. Agreed. A step is a step. It's not really withdrawing "all combat troops"

but it's better than we've had, that's for sure.

[deminks]

12. We'll be providing 'support' for longer than that.

I know this is symbolic, but at least a large number of our troops are leaving.

the more that come home, the less that are harmed in a senseless lie.

[crazylikafox]

4. I have tears in my eyes watching this.....

It took way too long, but I'm glad it's happening.

[gateley]

6. Me, too -- and chills. nt

[Ter]

21. It's a farce, our military will be there another 10 years at least

So begins the "peace-keeping" mission.

[malaise]

8. The mosque the mosque

what's happening with the mosque. I'm watching Lisa Murkowski defending 'infrastructure' and 'pork'.

[Common Sense Party]

9. Heading to Afghanistan?

You have to wonder...

[Ter]

24. Nah, Iran

n/t

[gateley]

27. Hell, maybe Pakistan! nt

[Barack2theFuture]

13. perfect timing

1:30 in the morning in Iraq; 6:30 PM in New York . . .

[eleny]

15. Engel in the convoy now 20 miles from the border of Kuwait

Earlier, when he first started reporting they were 30 miles away. Traveling at 45 mph.

[malaise]

16. Very nice of GENBC and GEM$NBC to cover this

No one else is covering this.

[EFerrari]

20. It's too bad the United States doesn't have a functioning media any more. n/t

[activa8tr]

17. Great EXCLUSIVE for MSNBC! I'm sure Fox is

covering this TOO ??? Fox is allowing Rachel Maddow to appear on their channel... right??? RIGHT!!!!!!!!


Seriously, though, This is great for MSNBC, and those of us who want combat troops out of Iraq

[malaise]

23. Not Fox

Not CNN
Not ABC
Not CBS
Not one of fucking them.
GEM$NBC rules this one.

[myrna minx]

19. K&R n/t

[Subdivisions]

22. K&R! It's a woderful thing, gateley =). Though there will still be issues to

deal with re: the remaining troops/"contractors". But I am grateful that the total number of our troops in-country will be reduced, among them my own cousin.

:bounce:

[gateley]

30. Those on MSNBS whom I trust (essentially Rachel and Keith) are saying this is

GOOD news, even though, as you way, there's much more to be done. The world's longest journey begins with a single step. :7 :hi:

[one_voice]

31. YAY!!!

Happy dance....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W3ZXQqJWH8


And Rachel is back tonight. :loveya:

A great start...still more to go.

[Skidmore]

32. Good news and great day!

A reminder to Pat Buchanan....this is not Viet Nam, and Iraq's future will of its own choosing.