"Obama hails upcoming end of Iraq combat effort; Says target date of Aug. 31 will be met; Warns of more troop deaths" by Farah Stockman, Globe Staff | August 3, 2010
WASHINGTON — Obama’s remarks seemed designed to give weary Americans hope that the war will soon be over -- seven years after President Bush landed on an aircraft carrier and declared that “major combat operations in Iraq have ended’’ in front of a sign that read “Mission Accomplished.’’
You mean NOW?
Oh.
Bush’s declaration — in May 2003 — is remembered with derision because it came just as the insurgency was about to engulf Iraq. Today, it underscores the continuing uncertainty and grim political realities that the United States stills faces in the country....
That's why those of us who were against this damn thing never wanted to do it.
And look at how it has turned out.
Obama warned: “The hard truth is we have not seen the end of American sacrifice in Iraq.’’
You mean we are not really leaving, huh?
This is just propaganda to get the wars of the election issue list.
*******
The pullout in Iraq has been accompanied by a buildup in Afghanistan....
And we also need forces for Iran.
“We have no one to negotiate with right now, if we want to talk about [leaving] a follow-on force to help train and mentor Iraqi troops . . . or even a simple office to help them procure equipment to help them get what they need,’’ said Stephanie Sanok, a former US official in Baghdad who helped negotiate the current withdrawal agreement with Baghdad.
Mentor? For how long?
Sanok, now a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said she expects the Iraqis to form a new government in the coming months, but if they don’t, there is a chance that the political stalemate could re-ignite large-scale violence.
And then you will just have to stay, America.
Yesterday, Obama highlighted the human costs of a war that he has always opposed....
What?
Since when and if so, why are we not out?
Analysts said Aug. 31 is an artificial marker. Little, if anything, will change in the daily lives of the 50,000 or so US troops who will remain in Iraq for another year.
That is the story of this guy's presidency.
American soldiers have long been engaged in a gradual withdrawal from lead roles in Iraqi cities, but continue to carry out crucial roles in logistics, air support, training, force protection, and counterterrorism operations....
--more--"
And they called it surge success.
"Bombs and shootings kill 12 in Iraq; Violence raises questions as US draws down" by Hamid Ahmed, Associated Press | August 3, 2010
BAGHDAD — Bombings and drive-by shootings killed 12 people yesterday, a reminder of Iraq’s ongoing instability as President Obama cited progress before the end of US military operations in the country.
The latest violence and government figures showing that July was the deadliest month for Iraqis in more than two years revived persistent questions about the readiness by Iraqi security forces to take over from Americans as the US military draws down its forces and ends all combat operations at the end of the month.
I actually begin to worry about Obama's sanity at this point.
He seems to believe what is on the teleprompter, and that scares me more than Bush not being able to read one.
They also confirm the widely spread belief that insurgents are taking advantage of a political impasse over forming a new government....
In the worst incident yesterday, suspected Al Qaeda militants blew up the house of a police officer west of Baghdad and killed him, his wife, and 4-year-old daughter.
They just got out of prison.
The officer’s house in Karmah, near the western city of Fallujah, was destroyed in the predawn hours while the family was sleeping, police and hospital officials said....
The police officials said they suspect Al Qaeda militants were behind the attack....
It is an "Al-CIA-Duh" kind of day here, isn't it?
Separate attacks in Baghdad, including one targeting police, killed five more and wounded 15.
Police officials said a roadside bomb apparently aimed at a police patrol missed and killed three civilians traveling in a car and wounded eight bystanders in the western part of Baghdad.
Shortly after midnight, police and hospital officials said gunmen in a car opened fire at a cafe in Baghdad’s Shi’ite district of Sadr City, killing two people and wounding seven.
Residents said the attack may have been the work of vigilantes angered by suspected drug use at the cafe....
Pffft!
Around Mosul, bombings killed three people and a fourth died in a marketplace shooting in the city center.
Great progress, huh?
--more--"
