Mission in Iraq changes…not so much
Stars & Stripes challenges the general impression that combat operations will end in Iraq.
More than a few U.S. soldiers said they were offended by the implication that the danger somehow vanishes when Operation Iraqi Freedom becomes Operation New Dawn.
“I guess that means we’re not going to get blown up anymore,” was the deadpan response from 1st Lt. Ryan McAlister, with the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, who commands a rough-hewn U.S. outpost near Mosul.
The news has been confusing for both troops and some in the U.S. awaiting their loved ones’ return from war.
“I had to tell my folks to cancel a welcome home party,” said Cpl. Felmen Spencer, 26, of Jacksonville, Ark., who is also with the Apache Troop.
His parents thought the announcement meant he would be coming home immediately.
The what the Hell did Joe Bite-Me mean when he said “politics, not war has broken out in Iraq” to the VFW Convention two days ago? I guess Bite-Me’s job is to be a cheerleader for all of the fumbles of this administration. That’s not spin, it’s outright lies.
The only thing that has changed is troop levels, meaning less troops are facing the same amount of danger in outlying areas.
Even the Associated Press has noticed a rise in attacks on Iraqis since the absence of US troops is noticable;
Bombers killed 53 Iraqis in nearly two dozen attacks spanning the country Wednesday, mostly targeting security forces in seemingly coordinated strikes the day after the number of U.S. troops fell below 50,000 for the first time since the start of the war.
Insurgents have been stepping up their attacks on Iraq’s security forces in recent months as the U.S. has trimmed its military presence in the country. At least half of those killed — 30 — were Iraqi soldiers and policemen.
Funny how the warnings of a timetable turn out to be true. I hear there are plans to have Joe Bite-Me sing us all to sleep every night.
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Terror War
I’ve obviously missed something here.
Wasn’t the idea to draw down American forces while the Iraqi forces took their place? I thought (silly me, being logical again, I guess) that the Iraqi forces would move into the positions and take over the responsibilities that the American troops were vacating.
What seems to be happening is that, as our troops leave, violence INCREASES. What happened to the Iraqi forces we supposedly trained? Why aren’t THEY controlling the violence now? The media reports indicate that, instead of controlling the violence, the Iraqi forces seem to be one of the main targets, and very vulnerable.
Enlightenment, anyone?
Bite-me continually reminds me of LT Frank Drebin from Police Squad. He is a bumbling idiot adrift in a pretentious self-importance. oblivious to the problems he creates.
Pinto, one of the main issues is one of respect. The forces arrayed against us in Iraq were finaly bludgeoned into respecting our ability to counter the threat they posed. The Iraqi forces do not command that same respect among the enemies of peace in Iraq, and are going to have to fight hard and bleed lots before they do earn it.
Jacobite, that’s an interesting point, and I’ve never heard it put that way before (the issue being about respect.)
Thanks.
Unfortunately, I don’t think it matters when combat forces left. This was going to happen. The Iraqi forces were going to have to prove what they can do. The Statment about not getting blown up anymore remainds me of my Captain asking who was shooting at us during Bush’s Mission Accomplished Speech.
I just read what I worte and needed to clarify (That’s what I get for multi-tasking)
We were not shot at during the speech. We were shot at earlier in the day during our retrograde into Kuwait. When we were watching the speech, Capt. Martinez asked,”If combat is over, who were those @$$&*(#@ shooting at us today?”
Agreed HM. In my opinion the Iraqi PEOPLE are also going to have to finaly show some resolve in backing THEIR ‘heros’, trying to make things safe for them. Iraqi forces are going to have their hands full trying to earn the respect of both their enemies, and the people they’re fighting for.