Comments on: Changing of the Guard: US Troops Withdraw from Iraqi Cities; Maliki Declares “Sovereignty Day” http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/ Firedoglake weblog Sat, 18 Feb 2012 07:53:53 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: redfish http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926487 redfish Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:15:38 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926487 <p>Obama is handling this the right way. It’s Bush’s war and Obama is being a responsible leader dealing with the hand he was dealt and not giving conservatives any ammo.</p> Obama is handling this the right way. It’s Bush’s war and Obama is being a responsible leader dealing with the hand he was dealt and not giving conservatives any ammo.

]]> By: Hugh http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926484 Hugh Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:01:29 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926484 <p>The three things to keep in mind is that the withdrawal isn’t even slated to begin until 2010, and, as Siun notes, the plan is to leave 50,000 troops in Iraq. These will not be called combat troops although that will be their function. This retention of troops in Iraq past a supposed withdrawal is actually what the neocon plan was to have permanent bases in Iraq.</p> The three things to keep in mind is that the withdrawal isn’t even slated to begin until 2010, and, as Siun notes, the plan is to leave 50,000 troops in Iraq. These will not be called combat troops although that will be their function. This retention of troops in Iraq past a supposed withdrawal is actually what the neocon plan was to have permanent bases in Iraq.

]]> By: redfish http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926482 redfish Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:27:27 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926482 <p>The invasion and occupation of Iraq will inevitably be judged by historians as one of the greatest foreign policy mistakes ever. To knowingly engage in a war of choice based on lies and distortions is unconscionable. Millions died and thousands were injured so Bush-Cheney’s war profiteering enablers could make millions and his neo-con buddies could further their “do as we say or else” agenda.</p> <p>Now, as Obama keeps his word and starts the long, slow and painful withdrawal process . . . one can only hope that Iraq doesn’t disintegrate totally into an endless cycle of sectarian violence. If so, our original Iraq policy will be responsible, not Obama’s/Iraq’s decision to withdraw US troops. The blood will be on Bush-Cheney’s hands.</p> The invasion and occupation of Iraq will inevitably be judged by historians as one of the greatest foreign policy mistakes ever. To knowingly engage in a war of choice based on lies and distortions is unconscionable. Millions died and thousands were injured so Bush-Cheney’s war profiteering enablers could make millions and his neo-con buddies could further their “do as we say or else” agenda.

Now, as Obama keeps his word and starts the long, slow and painful withdrawal process . . . one can only hope that Iraq doesn’t disintegrate totally into an endless cycle of sectarian violence. If so, our original Iraq policy will be responsible, not Obama’s/Iraq’s decision to withdraw US troops. The blood will be on Bush-Cheney’s hands.

]]> By: ghostof911 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926481 ghostof911 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:23:09 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926481 <p>Several years ago, independent groups were already estimating the count was over a million. The numbers for the injured and the displaced are far greater.</p> <p>I vote for Nuremberg II.</p> Several years ago, independent groups were already estimating the count was over a million. The numbers for the injured and the displaced are far greater.

I vote for Nuremberg II.

]]> By: Raven http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926479 Raven Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:09:19 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926479 <p>I guess we should be pissed off that he didn’t specifically count the number of Iraki dead.</p> I guess we should be pissed off that he didn’t specifically count the number of Iraki dead.

]]> By: ghostof911 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926477 ghostof911 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:58:48 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926477 <p>Thanks for the linky, Raven.</p> <blockquote><p>Colonel W. Patrick Lang is a retired senior officer of U.S. Military Intelligence and U.S. Army Special Forces… </p></blockquote> <p>Indeed, Bush and Cheney will be held accountable. The question is, who will get to them first? Our own system of justice, or foreign powers in a Nuremberg II?</p> Thanks for the linky, Raven.

Colonel W. Patrick Lang is a retired senior officer of U.S. Military Intelligence and U.S. Army Special Forces…

Indeed, Bush and Cheney will be held accountable. The question is, who will get to them first? Our own system of justice, or foreign powers in a Nuremberg II?

]]> By: bgrothus http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926476 bgrothus Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:51:00 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926476 <p>I guess what she said is technically true, the lies were “proved inaccurate.”</p> <p>And we are not “looking backwards.”</p> <p>That works.</p> I guess what she said is technically true, the lies were “proved inaccurate.”

And we are not “looking backwards.”

That works.

]]> By: WarOnWarOff http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926475 WarOnWarOff Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:47:03 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926475 <p>“Ooops. Our bad. But not really.”</p> “Ooops. Our bad. But not really.”

]]> By: WarOnWarOff http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926474 WarOnWarOff Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:45:07 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926474 <p>(Besides drinkin’ that is…)</p> (Besides drinkin’ that is…)

]]> By: bgrothus http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926473 bgrothus Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:44:11 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/30/changing-of-the-guard-us-troops-withdraw-from-iraqi-cities-maliki-declares-sovereignty-day/#comment-1926473 <p>I saw Janet Napolitano on TeeVee who was asked about our invasion/occupation of Iraq, “Was it a mistake to go there?” She said we were acting on information at the time that “proved inaccurate.”</p> <p>Wow. Just WOW.</p> I saw Janet Napolitano on TeeVee who was asked about our invasion/occupation of Iraq, “Was it a mistake to go there?” She said we were acting on information at the time that “proved inaccurate.”

Wow. Just WOW.

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