Most of the previous criticism of President Barack Obama’s “pullout” plan from Iraq has centered around it being less a pullout plan than a plan to continue the war indefinitely. But after a week of getting used to the idea that 50,000 troops will remain on the ground and engaging in combat long after the government declares combat operations over, some in the military are now concerned that the pullout is taking key support units, while leaving the elite forces which are dependant on them in place.

The elite forces, special operations units which engage in secretive operations across Iraq, are dependent on conventional forces for a myriad of aspects to their mission, from transportation to logistics support. So when a large chunk of those conventional forces are withdrawn, what’s going to happen to all the special operations forces that remain?

Officially the military says that they expect the needs of the special operations forces will continue to be met, but they are light on details of how this will be accomplished. Likely, it will mean further paring down the already limited pullout to ensure that these operations can continue unfettered.

Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz

• Homegrown US 'Terror Plots' Drop, But Nation Still 'On Edge' - February 9th, 2012
• Amputations Soared Among US Troops in 2011 - February 9th, 2012
• US Still Can't Find Missing Libyan Missiles - February 9th, 2012
• Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood: Let Us Form Government - February 9th, 2012
• As Reports of Violence Grow in Syria, So Do Western Calls for Intervention - February 9th, 2012