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US Troops To Leave Iraq By End of Year

Posted by Soulskill on from the pack-your-things dept.

mayberry42 writes with news that President Obama has announced an end to the U.S. military engagement in Iraq. All U.S. soldiers will leave Iraq by the end of the year. "Mr. Obama said that as of Jan. 1, 2012, the United States and Iraq would begin 'a normal relationship between two sovereign nations, and equal partnership based on mutual interest and mutual respect.' In a videoconference on Friday morning with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Mr. Obama told him of the administration’s decision, which grows out of an inability of the United States and Iraq to come to an agreement on leaving a few thousand military trainers in the country. The United States had earlier agreed to exit Iraq by the end of the year and leave 3,000 to 5,000 troops in Iraq as trainers, with some members of Congress advocating the retention of a reduced fighting force as well. But Pentagon lawyers insisted that the Iraqi Parliament grant immunity from legal prosecution to the troops if they were to remain."

5 of 386 comments (clear)

  1. Unmanned drones are not soldiers by h00manist · · Score: 2, Interesting

    They are machines, and they carry weapons, No soldiers present.

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    Build your own energy sources from scratch. http://otherpower.com/
  2. Re:US. vs China by bennomatic · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Since 1776 or since 3000 BC?

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    The CB App. What's your 20?
  3. Re:5000 soldiers by mrquagmire · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There will be 5,500 mercenaries and 17,000 "individuals," working for the embassy. http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/02/5500-mercs-to-protect-u-s-fortresses-in-iraq/

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    giggity
  4. Re:Well, that's a clever tactic. by RazzleFrog · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Soldiers still have to answer to US laws (theoretically of course). This just means they wouldn't have to answer to Iraqi laws. Imagine if Iraq passed a law that said all women must wear long pants and decides to arrest a female soldier in shorts.

  5. Re:A pre-emptive "Welcome home" to all of them by xer0aim · · Score: 3, Interesting

    As a member of the Armed Forces, this comment honestly offends me. I've been in for 6 years now, already completed 1 deployment and have not at any point felt "good" about holding a gun in my hands shooting "bad" guys. The fact that you even think that shows how ill-informed you truly are. I urge you to take time out of your honorable life and go spend some time with these people that you are so quick to bash.