Blast it, I want some positivity today.. we are moving our troops out of Iraqi cities

and turning over the powers to the Iraqis. Do you realize, American generals no longer run the war.. We are officially support troops, and even if attacked (God forbid) like in any other country it has to go through Iraqi channels.

Now if you had listened to the Cheney this week, he thinks this pullback to the perimeters and turning over the reigns of power is DANGEROUS.

We would not be here, without Obama. Now this may not be the full pull out, but dog gone it, I want to hear a some yahoos for our side for a few minutes.

Just bring them home, already.

But we have to reassess and see we are headed in the right direction and say.. yes good move, we have made it this far.. .. If all you get is FAIL FAIL FAIL,what is the point of even trying. ..

and continuing the war forever, and therefore, some will have to pretend it isn't happening or ignore it.

I'm very happy though for the Iraqi people, and for my nephew who is not going to get stop lossed, and will not have to go back to Iraq.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/world/middleeast/17iraq.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

"The proposed agreement, which took nearly a year to negotiate with the United States, not only sets a date for American troop withdrawal, but puts new restrictions on American combat operations in Iraq starting Jan. 1 and requires an American military pullback from urban areas by June 30. Those hard dates reflect a significant concession by the departing Bush administration, which had been publicly averse to timetables."

In fact, while Obama campaigned on a 30K troop residual force to protect interests, this agreement by the Bush administration undercuts that by calling for the "full withdrawal of American forces from the country by the end of 2011."

:)

And no, I don't think Obama is "worse than Bush". I doubt more than 1% of the population does. Im just pointing out very recent history

... who needs'em

And I'm not sure McCain would've carried it out, given that he tried to run to the right of Bush on this.

Sometimes people forget to say good job to the good things done.

Lots of work to do, lots of things going on, but it seems to be a good direction and progress.

Change doesn't happen overnight; although I'm sure many will disagree.

Associated Press Writer= BAGHDAD (AP) — Four U.S. soldiers were killed in combat shortly before the American military completed a withdrawal from Iraq's cities, and the prime minister assured Iraqis that government forces taking control of urban areas on Tuesday were more than capable of protecting the country.

Nouri al-Maliki said in a nationally televised address that "those who think that Iraqis are not able to protect their country and that the withdrawal of foreign forces will create a security vacuum are committing a big mistake."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8584371

Not great news. It is a step. The good news will be when they all come home.

I am so sorry there were 4 US soldiers killed, but it could have been a lot worse. I believe the US pulled out ahead of schedule to try and avoid the uptick in violence that was expected.

We are now trying to do the right thing--- after a disgrace was perpetrated on Iraq in our name. Pulling out carelessly would have been just as much folly as was going to war in the first place. IMHO

Every thread would have been a commentary on it. I hurt to my core for those 4 soldiers.. and there will be more. No pullout is without loss, and each life is precious. And the Iraqis are going to face losses and their lives are precious. I wish we could wave that magic wand, and it would be over. But that is impossible.

This is not Vietnam though, with people hanging off of choppers. If we had tried a pullout like that, it would have been a bloody massacre. I think it was Powell who warned them , if we go in , we own it. We are ahead of schedule. But the time is right, with Iran involved with its own internal struggles, they are less likely to interfere as Iraq rebuilds itself. This is one of those moments of opportunity, and I am glad to see we have people in places of power who can act on that.

:sarcasm:

(again, typing it out makes you see how stupid it looks)

ahh .... good times, good times.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8300268

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8233329

When good news like this occurs, they'll be silent. Not a peep out of 'em.

Why so quiet I though Obama was lying to us about Iraq? How come they aren't here spreading that BS?:toast:

...when there's good news, they're conveniently not around.


It's the same PUMA bullshit from a year ago...

Im pretty sure he is adhering to a timeline agreed upon before he took office

Like Bush honored any of the "timelines" or "milestones" that they had set. If McCain had been in office, we'd have been hearing about how either the high level of violence required us to stay in the cities, or how the low level of violence made it safe for us to stay in the cities. :eyes:

to someone who was in no way responsible for crafting the agreement or coming up with the timelines. No one knows what would of happened in an alternate universe, but what we do *know* is that Obama is only following an agreement that he had nothing to do with, which was made before he was in office.

Its just a bit of a stretch.

I think Obama can fairly get credit when he withdraws beyond what is expected before he came into office, and to such a point the US will not re-escalate. With all due respect, Im just not sure that is going to happen based merely on the dollars and cents of the situation (there is a lot of investment into this country, just starting with the war, that people have not been able to capitalize on yet in a profitable way).

All you need to do is look at the LONG history of all the supposed Bush "war milestones" that were so much fluff.

withdrawal as a matter of process, and, following the law. How refreshing. It was so good to see the people of Iraq happy to start running their own country. Having our troops patrolling the cities had to be a thorn in the Iraqi side, meaning we were still occupying their country.

I wanted more shots of the people celebrating.

Now we know.

:wtf:

was going to be the "compassionate" conservative. The neo cons would never have let us leave.. the excuse would be just what Cheney is putting forward now...that Iraq was not ready..yadda yadda yadda

Which was signed before Obama came into office.

That is a fact actually.

President Obama any credit but if we hadn't elected Obama this would not be happening.

Obama's helping us and that just fucking kills you.

set in the SOFA. Yes, its great he is adhering to it. But he didn't set it. The SOFA actually puts forth stipulations for withdrawal above and beyond what Barack Obama campaigned on, specifying that his promise of a "residual force" will be in conflict with the complete withdrawal date specified at the end of 2011.

Yes, I can give him credit for adhering to an agreement signed before he came into office. I guess, he could of done less or more (as anyone in an alternate reality could have). But honestly, on a factual basis, thats all we have to work on.

and not part of the security agreement Bush struck beforehand?

:headbang:
rocktivity

Just from the reaction of Iraqis partying in the streets, you can tell that we're a hell of a lot closer to an end to the Iraq War.

It's messy, we're not home yet, and people are bending the rules, but dammit, troops just left the cities!

I recognize progress when I see it. This is awesome!

together and not settle any more old scores in the power vacuum left by our withdrawal.

Glad to see positive developments or indicators that we are leaving.

is astronomical, it would more then pay for proper Health Care reform..and education funding, and infrastructure funding, and....

Pakistan, Iran, Honduras, etc...

Ok, it's not a full withdrawal but it's still awesome regardless.

:thumbsup:

as for Cheney, we wouldn't be there in the FIRST place if it wasn't for him ...

I can't stand that evil man:mad: