Related Information to Post War Iraq

Post War Iraq - Page 155

Iraq Would Accept U.S. Soldiers as Trainers:

Iraq's prime minister indicated on Wednesday that he was open to the eventual return of American troops as trainers, underscoring that the United States is likely to be involved in this country's security even after the last soldiers depart in the coming weeks. Ref. Source 5

Iraq War Post

The last U.S. Troops in Iraq crossed the border into Kuwait on Sunday morning, ending almost nine years of a deadly and divisive war.

About 500 soldiers based in Fort Hood, Texas, and 110 military vehicles made the journey south from Camp Adder, near Nasiriyah, to the Khabari border crossing, from where they will head to Camp Virginia in Kuwait before flying home.

They were the last soldiers in what amounted to the largest U.S. Troop drawdown since the war in Vietnam.

America's contentious and costly war in Iraq officially ended Thursday with an understated ceremony in Baghdad, when U.S. Troops lowered the flag of command that flew over the Iraqi capital.

Justified by President George W. Bush largely on the grounds that Saddam Hussein was seeking weapons of mass destruction that he could share with terrorists such as al Qaeda, the invasion cased deep divisions in America and around the world.

Pres ident Obama, elected partly on the strength of his opposition to the war, has promised economic, diplomatic and military help to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Nearly 4,500 Americans were killed and more than 30,000 injured in Iraq. Ref. CNN

Post War Iraq History & Civil Business Politics

US troops will stay in Iraq , Maliki:

Iraqi Premier Nouri al- Maliki said that 700 US trainers will work to train Iraqi forces, adding that the number of US embassy in Baghdad will not exceed 2000. Ref. Source 6

Page 155 Iraq War Post

Iraqis celebrate US withdrawal at mass rally

Thousands of Iraqis gathered in the capital Baghdad on Friday to celebrate the withdrawal of US troops from the country: They chanted slogans against the 'occupation' that started in 2003 and called the pullout earlier this month a 'day of liberation and evacuation.' Ref. Source 9

Iraq War Post

Dahr Jamail: Seven years after sieges, Fallujah struggles

With their city largely destroyed by two US military assaults, residents of Fallujah continue to suffer. Ref. Source 4

Post War Iraq

Iraq attacks kill five policemen, town mayor:

Gun attacks in Baghdad and predominantly Sunni west Iraq on Wednesday left five policemen and a town mayor dead, security and medical officials said. Ref. Source 6

Post War Iraq - Page 155

I remember talking to a friend last year about Iraq and Afghanistan and told him that the President will pull the troops out of one of those places between 3rd quarter 2011 and 2nd quarter 2012. When asked why, I told him because the President promissed to do it in a campaign pledge back in 2008 and with the economy not so great...he will have to have other things to talk about on the campaign trail. Honestly, I would have been more for the 2nd quarter of this year to minimize the amount of time for Iraq to fall into a civil war.

Always wanting to support the war effort and the troops, I asked myself early last year what would I want and what expected outcomes do I see for us in Iraq.

The Dream: insurgency stops, government becomes a cohesive all people respresentative body, economy and standard of living start a rapid increase and good relations with the US. When I thought of that I saw that from where we are today, that would take many years. The insurgency is a job to those in it. They like and are passionate about their job. It would take many years (more than the 4 a US administration has) to finally achieve. Today, I think that the adminstration is kidding itself if they really think that Iraq is ready. However, I can also look at it and ask...when would they ever be ready.

Nice Idea: insurgency decreases, government is still not a cohesive unit that represents all groups, economy and standard of living still arent much improved and the US has good relations with the government. I thought we could pull out now and it would have a slight chance of happening or we could stay longer and improve that slight chance a little more but not nearly make it a guarantee.

Most Likely: insurgency decrease, government is a bit corrupt and not representative, economy and standard of living are suspect as well as the US relations. I think this is what we got and probably what we would have gotten without a very long term committment to Iraq. I expect that there will at minimum be a power struggle within government. I expect the result to end up like many other middle east countries of late and that would be a fairly anti western muslim government. We could have gotten this about 8 years and at least a few hundred billion dollars ago.

That was when I came to the conclusion that the US needed to either make a very longterm commitment to Iraq (meaning a presence of about 20 to 25 yrs to show the insurgency that they might want to think change approach) or we might as well as get out. The US isn't typically set up to make that kind of commitment because of the every 4 yr presidential election cycle. I do hope the people of Iraq get the leader they want and not just allow a few to create another Saddam Hussien. We toppled Hussien and supported you in your bid to establish a government of your choosing. We got rid of a lot of bad guys. Unfortunately, that is about all that we can do...the rest will be up to you.

Additionally, if this was our play in Iraq, I don't see much difference at all with Afghanistan. The President should just get them rolling out as well. If we arent willing to commit to any more than 4 yrs increments, the insurgents can just wait us out...they got time.

Edited: Vincenzo on 13th Jan, 2012 - 6:20am

Post War Iraq Politics Business Civil & History - Page 155

I like your optimism but I have doubts. I am concerned about the continued effect of rising oil prices such a war could bring. I also see Israel as being a lead or start in this if they haven't already begun through infiltration at ground level.