Obama to leave only 3000 US troops in Iraq

[Tender Branson]

Sources: Obama Administration to Drop Troop Levels in Iraq to 3,000

The Obama administration has decided to drop the number of U.S. troops in Iraq at the end of the year down to 3,000, marking a major downgrade in force strength, multiple sources familiar with the inner workings and decisions on U.S. troop movements in Iraq told Fox News.

Senior commanders are said to be livid at the decision, which has already been signed off by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

The generals on the ground had requested that the number of troops remaining in Iraq at the end of the year reach about 27,000. But, there was major pushback about "the cost and the political optics" of that decision that the number was then reduced to 10,000.

Commanders said they could possibly make that work "in extremis," in other words, meaning  they would be pushing it to make that number work security-wise and manpower-wise.

Now, sources confirm that the administration has pushed the Pentagon to cut the number even lower, and commanders are concerned for the safety of the U.S. troops who would remain there.

"We can't secure everybody with only 3,000 on the ground nor can we do what we need to with the Iraqis," one source said.

A senior military official said by reducing the number of troops to 3,000, the White House has effectively reduced the mission to training only.

"There is almost no room for security operations in that number; it will be almost purely a training mission," this official said. The official added that a very small number of troops within that 3,000 will be dedicated to counter-terrorism efforts, but that's not nearly what Gen. Lloyd Austin, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, wanted.

This shift is seen by various people as a cost-saving measure and a political measure. The only administration official fighting for at least 10,000 forces to stay in Iraq at the end of the year was Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, sources said. But she has lost the battle.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/06/sources-obama-administration-to-drop-troop-levels-in-iraq-to-3000/#ixzz1XCATeZQG

[Tender Branson]

And in Libya it also looks like NATO is going to end their combat mission soon.

And in Afghanistan, Obama is pulling out the amount of troops he once sent in, so all in all the troop level there should remain at what it was when he became President.

Looks like Obama is on the way of fulfilling another of the election promises by ending the war in Iraq and remove the troops and winding down the mission in Afghanistan (even though it's massive black hole there).

[opebo]

Christ, I hope they leave them a Maxim gun.

[memphis]

I thought they were all supposed to be out of Iraq by the end of the year.

[Lief 🗽]

stupid warmongering promise-breaking DINO Obama

[Boris]

stupid warmongering promise-breaking DINO Obama

a few hundred more Americans are probably going to die in Afghanistan by time 1/20/13 rolls around...

[angus]

Operation Declining Marginal Utility   

[CultureKing]

How much money would this actually save us if enacted?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I'll believe it when I see it.q

[Marston]

How much money would this actually save us if enacted?

IIRC, the Department of Defense is requesting only $8 billion for Iraq for FY2012. So, I'd imagine little in savings from there. The real savings would come from decreased maintenance, healthcare, and procurement expense, I would wager.

[J. J.]

He might have come uo with a more effective way of using the military.

[Zarn]

I prefer zero troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I prefer zero troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Amen

[Torie]

It's amazing how Iraq has fallen off the radar screen isn't it?  Hopefully it stays that way. That is good news. I have no clue as to the merits of this decision. But given that we are broke, in general, less is more absent compelling reasons to the contrary.

In the end, non AAA rated countries cannot maintain superpower status. It is sort of like the law of gravity - it's always there.

[Mr. Taft Republican]

I prefer zero troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Amen

Preach it.

[opebo]

...given that we are broke, in general

Very dubious statement, of course. 

[© tweed]

I prefer zero troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Amen

Preach it.

Pentagon operations account for a 20-30% oil price subsidy according to some estimates.  so you probably wouldn't like the resulting $6/gallon gas.

[Mr. Taft Republican]

Pentagon operations account for a 20-30% oil price subsidy according to some estimates.  so you probably wouldn't like the resulting $6/gallon gas.

I myself have always said that if prices rose to $5 I would launch a brick through the nearest Citgo's window, I intend to hold that promise. I hope that many people join me in that.

Oh yeah, peace, and all that stuff.