Obama: US to leave Iraq 'as promised, on schedule'

[Allhallowsday]

Obama: US to leave Iraq 'as promised, on schedule' 

ATLANTA – President Barack Obama declared Monday that the Iraq war was nearing an end "as promised and on schedule," touting what he called a success of his administration though it comes amid persistent instability and uncertainty in Iraq.

Obama cited progress toward meeting his deadline of withdrawing all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of this month. A transitional force of 50,000 troops will remain to train Iraqi security forces, conduct counterterrorism operations and provide security for ongoing U.S. civilian efforts. Under an agreement negotiated in 2008 with the Iraqis, all American troops are to be gone from Iraq by the end of next year.

"The hard truth is we have not seen the end of American sacrifice in Iraq," Obama said in a speech to the national convention of the Disabled American Veterans. "But make no mistake, our commitment in Iraq is changing — from a military effort led by our troops to a civilian effort led by our diplomats..." 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama

[3mnkids]

I hope so. We will see. I do like some of the things Obama has done but im disappointed in what he hasn't done. Keep your word, Mr. President.

[indianasmith]

"touting the success of his administration"

MAKES ME WANT TO RETCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Democrats in Congress had gotten their way, we would have abandoned Iraq to the terrorists and yanked all our troops out in 2006 so they could club GWB over the head with the war he "lost"!  Remember Harry Reid - "This war is lost, Mr. President!"  While our brave troops were fighting and dying in that desert hell to make sure it WASN'T lost!

Now they are bending over backwards to give Obama the credit for winning a war he opposed from the get-go.  The war in Iraq was won by the splendid valor and skill of our troops on the ground, by the brilliance and shrewd management of Gen. Petraeus, and by the guts of President George W. Bush, who recognized that what is right is not always popular and honored our commitment to make sure the Iraqi people remained free after Saddam was toppled.

It is sad to say, but there are many in Congress who would have preferred to see America lose a war than see a Republican President get credit for winning one. Did you notice how Cindy Sheehan and Code Pink vanished from sight the minute Obama won?  The Democrats used them to help take back Congress and the White House, then showed them the door the minute they were in power.

Hopefully history will give the credit for this victory to those who deserve it, not to those who are clamoring to claim it now.

[3mnkids]

Now I want to retch      the guts of President George W. Bush?

[indianasmith]

I fullly recognize that I am in a minority.

But I think he was and is an incredibly decent human being, far smarter than his critics gave him any credit for,  and one of the most politically courageous Presidents in modern history.

If this forum is still here in about 25 years, we will see how well history backs me up on that!

[Allhallowsday]

I fullly recognize that I am in a minority.

He take short bus.   

[trekgeezer]

I wouldn't be yahooin' too much about this.  What did we win?  We should never have been there to begin with, a point I won't debate. It's what I believe.  We're going to be there a very long time yet.  I just heard a piece on the radio this morning and it seems the State Dept. will be supported by civilian contractors for just about everything, which means 10's of thousands of civilians in harm's way. 

We have thousands of disabled, dead, and psychologically scared young men and women because of this, so go right ahead an argue over  who should have their backs patted for our victory. Obama, just finished what GWB started.  The Iraquis are the only ones who won anything from this stupidity and even that is left to be seen, it could all go to hell tomorrow. 

I just thank God that most of troops are coming home.