Another promise fulfilled: Obama to speak with vets on Iraq drawdown

[jefferson_dem]

Obama to speak with vets on Iraq drawdown

By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 2, 2010; 6:48 AM

At the start of the last presidential campaign, there was one overriding issue on the minds of voters: the Iraq war.

Barack Obama's early opposition to the U.S. invasion, and Hillary Rodham Clinton's refusal to say her defense of it was wrong, animated the Democratic contest then, and for much of the rest of the campaign. Among Republicans, too, the Iraq war dominated the debate, nearly killing John McCain's nomination hopes.

But the economic crisis of late 2008, and the improving security situation in Iraq, pushed George W. Bush's war to the back burner as Obama took office. In the 18 months since, Iraq has rarely made headlines.

Now, even as President Obama struggles with the war in Afghanistan, his administration is quietly approaching a milestone in the other war America is waging.

Obama will discuss this milestone -- the end of combat operations on August 31 and a shift by the U.S. military to a "transitional" support role-- in a speech to the Disabled American Veterans in Atlanta on Monday.

"Already, we have closed or turned over to Iraq hundreds of bases," Obama plans to say, according to excerpts of his speech that were released by the White House Sunday night. "We're moving out millions of pieces of equipment in one of the largest logistics operations that we've seen in decades."

The speech is intended to help Obama check off another of the major promises he made during the campaign, and shortly after becoming commander-in-chief. Barely a month after he took office, he told a military audience at Camp Lejeune: "Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end."

<SNIP>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/02/AR2010080201254.html

[babylonsister]

1. Recommend! This is a biggie. nt

[jaxx]

2. All I can say is Yaaayyyyyyyyy

[SunsetDreams]

3. K&R Thanks!

[Richardo]

4. What would Vice President Biden say?

"This is a big fucking deal." :patriot:

[zipplewrath]

5. After the snip

White House officials are very wary of echoing Bush's pronouncement of: "mission accomplished," especially given the ongoing political turmoil and potential for violence in Iraq. Instead, in his speech, Obama will remind Americans that thousands of troops will remain in the country as a "transitional force" for years, and will likely face danger.

"The hard truth is we have not seen the end of American sacrifice in Iraq," the president will say.

And the State Department is building a small army of their own, using subcontractors, to provide security, and an operational capability. It ain't over and no one plans on ending it any time soon.

[dmallind]

6. Which is exactly as promised

There is no even implied promise that ALL US personnel will be out by 8/31 and never was.

[SunsetDreams]

7. Exactly.

all combat troops would be out, there is a difference.

[zipplewrath]

8. Not really

It's a rhetorical difference more than anything. In Vietnam we had "advisors" for years, upwards of 50,000 of them. They were combat troops working with the South Vietnameze. The State Department is building a rather large force of mercenaries under the title of "security" which will have operational capabilities, outside of the embassy. They'll have Black Hawk helicopters and armored vehicles. It's not just for escort missions. The 50,000 he's leaving behind aren't clerks, they'll be there to fight. We've been through this before. The "end of major combat operations" has been announced in the past. We, democrats, are making a very long term combat committment in and to Iraq. Whether and how it gets used will be seen in the future.

[truth2power]

9. You're correct. I am so sick of this playing with words that goes on all the time...

and the American people just eat it up. Just redefine one thing as something else and it's all good.

So, "combat troops", those people with weapons, will leave. To be replaced with "mercenaries", those people with weapons. The downside being that most of the mercenaries really are fukin' nutz. Yeah, that'll work.

And the Black Hawk helicopters...I guess that's a new, efficient transportation system for Iraqi citizens. Can ferry them back and forth to McDonalds. Will the helos be equipped with weapons? I thought so.

I just heard on the radio the same announcement as in the OP. The announcer said we'll be in Iraq for another year to "train" :rofl: Iraqis and protect "American <read, oil> interests".

American occupation of Iraq will NEVER be over.

Sick. and. tired.

[ProSense]

10. Can you provide a link showing that there were still troops in Vietnam after the

last troops withdrew?

[zipplewrath]

11. No, before they were "there"

There were "noncombat" troops there, in combat, before we acknowledged that they were combat troops. There will be 50,000 troops in September, and no matter what you call them, they are still involved in combat.

[ProSense]

13. "no matter what you call them, they are still involved in combat."

No, they're not involved in combat now. So why then would non-combat troops suddenly start up combat operations again?

You made a claim about Vietnam that is not supported by the facts.

[zipplewrath]

14. Yes, they are

They aren't doing regular patrols. But they are available to support the Iraqi forces. I do wonder going forward, what their use will be and why Obama wants so many forces in country into next year. I wonder too why he wants to hang onto so many bases.

[sandnsea]

12. He's talking about the continued transition

"Now, one of those chapters is nearing an end. As a candidate for President, I pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end. Shortly after taking office, I announced our new strategy for Iraq and for a transition to full Iraqi responsibility. And I made it clear that by August 31, 2010 America’s combat mission in Iraq would end. And that is exactly what we are doing-as promised, on schedule.

Already, we have closed or turned over to Iraq hundreds of bases.

We’re moving out millions of pieces of equipment in one of the largest logistics operations that we’ve seen in decades. By the end of this month, we’ll have brought more than 90,000 of our troops home from Iraq since I took office-more than 90,000.

Today - even as terrorists try to derail Iraq’s progress - because of the sacrifices of our troops and their Iraqi partners, violence in Iraq continues to be near the lowest it’s been in years. And next month, we will change our military mission from combat to supporting and training Iraqi security forces. In fact, in many parts of the country, Iraqis have already taken the lead for security.

As agreed to with the Iraqi government, we will maintain a transitional force until we remove all our troops from Iraq by the end of next year. During this period, our forces will have a focused mission-supporting and training Iraqi forces, partnering with Iraqis in counterterrorism missions, and protecting our civilian and military efforts. These are dangerous tasks. And there are still those with bombs and bullets who will try to stop Iraq’s progress. The hard truth is we have not seen the end of American sacrifice in Iraq.

But make no mistake, our commitment in Iraq is changing-from a military effort led by our troops to a civilian effort led by our diplomats. And as we mark the end of America’s combat mission in Iraq, a grateful America must pay tribute to all who served there."

http://obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=1802