Obama says most US troops in Iraq home within a year
WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama told Americans on Sunday a substantial number of the 140,000 US troops in Iraq would be home within a year, saying Iraqis were now ready to take more responsibility for their own security.
Obama, who inherited two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, pledged during his presidential campaign to withdraw all US troops from Iraq within 16 months, at a rate of one or two brigades a month.
In an interview with NBC television, Obama praised the provincial elections held in Iraq at the weekend, the most peaceful polls since US-led forces invaded in 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein.
Asked in the NBC interview whether a substantial number of troops would be home in time for next year's Super Bowl, the National Football League's championship game being played on Sunday, Obama replied: "Yes. We are going to roll out in a very formal fashion what our intentions are in Iraq as well as Afghanistan."
The Obama administration has launched a comprehensive review of America's strategy in Afghanistan, where NATO-led forces are struggling to cope with spiraling violence and a resurgent Taliban militancy.
The administration is considering almost doubling the US force in Afghanistan from 36,000 to more than 60,000 within 18 months.
Obama, who held talks with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon last week, has said he wants a responsible and phased withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. The United States signed a military deal with Iraq last year that set a 2011 deadline for US forces to quit the country.
"In conversations I have had with the joint chiefs, with commanders on the ground, I think we have a sense, now that the Iraqis just had a very significant election with no significant violence, we are in a position to put more responsibility on the Iraqis," Obama said in the interview.
He also said one of the more sobering moments of his young presidency was having to sign letters to send to families of slain soldiers.
Some 644 US soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan and 4,236 in Iraq.
If Iraq stays stable as he starts to withdraw troops I will strongly support the move. What I strongly suspect and fear is that as troops are removed various elements within Iraq will begin armed struggles for power resulting in chaos and those who get arms and monetary support from Iran gaining supremacy.
Concur.
My worst fear is a Iran fuelled civil war following the US forces withdrawl. A more realistic situation would be, waiting till a disciplined and qualified Iraqi Army is in place with 100% support for the newly elected Iraqi Govt. Iran wouldn't be too interested meddling in such a situation.
And on the sixth day, God created the Field Artillery...
Do you think Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan etc. will be any more forbearing? Iran can get substantial influence in Iraq through the ballot (the Shia voting bloc), but whoever else wants the same have no resort but the bullet. It will be a regular little battle-royale if it goes hot.Originally Posted by Maxor
Its not a certaintity that Iranian Shia's will necessarily support Iran. Certainly some will, but religion is only part of the mix in Iraq, tribal loyalty is also important as is Arab Persian cultural divide. Iraqi Shia's have been Iraqi a long time, many of them fought in the war against Iran. I don't think that Iran can automatically count a clear majority of Iraqi shia supporting them in disagreements that might come up.
Of course, they are unlikely to support Saudi Arabia and the others you mentioned as well, but support of Iran is not automatic.
Last edited by Johnny W; 04 Feb 09, at 01:52.
Iran just got slapped in the face in the provincial election. Right now Iraq's nationalist sentiment is running high. And since we're wanting our troops out of there ASARP (as soon as reasonably practical), about the only serious consequence of that is that they're not, taken as a group, in the mood for any parties that seem to be Iranian puppets.
So yeah, that's good news. Hopefully things continue to go well and improve in Iraq and the secular parties can consolidate their hold.
I think, US troops when they are withdrawn wont go home, they will go to afghanistan and FATA.
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