Senior U.S. and Iraqi military officials have been in negotiations about keeping some 10,000 American troops in Iraq beyond the scheduled withdrawal of all U.S. forces at year’s end, according to officials familiar with the talks.
But the discussions face political obstacles in both countries, and have faltered in recent weeks because of Iraqi worries that a continued U.S. military presence could fuel sectarian tension and lead to protests similar to those sweeping other Arab countries, U.S. officials say.
The only fitting ending to this whole dumb war is the people of Iraq overthrowing the cute U.S.-imposed democracy so they can set up… a democracy. One they were probably going to fight to put into place around this time anyway. The way these Arab dominoes are falling so deterministically, according to breathless commentators, we will probably soon see huge protests on the streets against the rule of Saddam. [WSJ]
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Happy Easter! Mullen’s pilgrimage comes on the heels of recent begging trips by SecDef Gates, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R – Boner) and Chief of Staff of the Army Martin Dempsey.
Guys: Desperation never works. Be cool, hang out first, let her come to you. If it isn’t meant to be, just move on, ‘Kay? Plenty of fish in the sea.
The military is everywhere it's ever been. Japan, Korea, Germany…isn't it only natural to expect they'd push for a continued presence in Iraq, as well?
We left Russia after the interventions there. Nobody in the P.I. anymore (thanks to a nearby volcano). Nobody in France to speak of. We only left our dead in Mexico City. Can't leave Korea until the Kims fall off the corpse of North Korea…
Belgium, Luxembourg, Vietnam(!), New Zealand, Iceland. The problem with Iraq is not so much that they're pushing for democracy as that they're pushing for civil war.
I'm guessing the military colleges don't do classes in leaving.
"…worries that a continued U.S. military presence could fuel sectarian tension…"
That would definitely suck if there was tension due to US forces being around. Just doesn't sound plausible.
This whole Iraq War thing is sooooo 2007.
Soooo 2003.
Soooo 1991, too.
It makes perfect sense — if we don't keep a presence in Iraq, Saddam might rebuild his nuclear capability or start training al-Qaida again.
I think the real answer is that the Kurds want us to stay in Kurdistan, to keep the Iraqi government from fighting them over Mosul and to keep the Turks out.
And, yet, we allow Turkish Kurd militants cross the border willy-nilly to help further destablize the north. I know the Kurds haven't had it easy in any of the countries they've been in, but the PKK ain't gonna' get a state with the tactics they have devised over the years.
Hooray! We can support the rebels. (Assuming they are rag-tag, of course.)
The South shall rise again!
Gosh, keep troops in Iraq forever? Ya think?
Iraq has been ruled by predators and the current heads of state are complete drones. It's only logical appoint an actual death robot that can be controlled from 7000 miles away as the head of state.
I think we ought to pull the troops…you know, troopus interruptus. To make sure we don't knock the Iraq's up and all.
Oh, I'm sorry, did you Iraqis think we were building that Vatican-sized embassy for stamping visas and finding lost passports? Yeah. Enjoy living in the shadow of the Dark Tower, suckers.
And here they thought we were coming to make their lives better and to rebuild their crushed infrastructure. Suckers. This ain't Flip This Country. You're sitting on a giant zit of sweet sweet black love, and it's ours now.
"Sweet Black Love" is the name I used to dance under.
My first reaction being "FFS, why?!?" I looked at the WSJ article:
In Iraq, top U.S. military officials believe that leaving a sizeable force beyond this year could bolster Iraqi stability and serve as a check on Iran, the major American nemesis in the region, officials said. U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and Israel have echoed the concern that if the U.S. pulls out completely, Iran could extend its influence.
——-
Cue Walnuts singing an encore of "Bomb Iran" in 3…2…1…
This http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynxdBS7HpPk should ensure that the US will be asked to leave the Mideast soon, very soon…
That's patently inhumane psyops banned by the Geneva treaties.
Biggest smile I've had in a week. Tks.
Iraq is the new West Germany!
The only way the US Military leaves is hastily, by roof top helicopter.
Keep in mind that currently the WSJ is Fox News for people who like to read old style typeface.
I'm still upset they got rid of stickle-print head-shots for their columnists, though.
Much will be turned over to "contractors" and "weapon system trainers" which the U.S. will pay for. There are 130,000 of them there now. Plus this 10,000 or more regular troops the Iraqis have already ask to remain and embassy personnel and intelligence personnel and navy and air force either in country or close by. All done to make things look better and thereby pacify the Iraqis and the voters in the States a bit. It will end up costing more and will continue until the rapture or maybe even after that.
When the lights
go outstay on in Sadr City…Billion dollar-plus embassy and huge bases with fast food in a country with lots of oil and next to Iran.
Oh, we'll be leaving all right.
Can't we all agree that this war should not end until we get at least one decent rock song out of it? I mean, why the hell else go to war?
Let Paul McCartney slap something together and call it a day. For the love of god, though, spare us Tobey Keith.
A coworker has a son oversears in Iraq currently, we had a drive at work. She requested: batteries, canned nuts, powdered drink mixes, magazines, jerky, unscented soaps, shampoo, deoderants, travel size toothpasted and toothbrushes, shampoos and towelettes.
On a domestic flight I met an Armored Cav (Ft. Hood) enlisted soldier on leave. He thought the above was a good list. His thinking is that the USA will keep troops in Iraq for ten years, minimum. So, the .mil is set to build PX and other facilities as soon as the US domestic situation is hashed out (G. W. is re-elected). When not on patrol he is staying in a two-man trailer. He watches ESPN, the roomate watches Cartoon Network. During the lulls they don't want to hear about the war that they are fighting in…
Please include a Thank You card with anything you send. Oh yeah, he thinks that it is worth it to be there. The Iraqies suffered under Saddam in way that we cannot imagine.
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