US Declares Iraq War ‘Over,’ But Fighting Continues
50,000 Troops to Do 'An Awful Lot of Training'
US officials are continuing to jump on board the proclamation that the Iraq War has ended, with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates going from yesterday’s comments to a firm declaration today that we’re “not” at war in Iraq any longer.
The whole administration seems to have settled on this narrative, but the real bump in the road remains how simply untrue it is. The war is not over and for the 50,000 troops, despite official claims that they will “do an awful lot of training,” this is still very much a shooting war.
In fact while President Obama was giving his “time to turn the page” victory speech, US troops in full combat gear were taking part in an attack on a northern Iraqi village. They no doubt would have been surprised to hear that there is no war in Iraq.
Violence is on the rise, hundreds of Iraqis have been killed since the “last combat brigade” moment and US troops continue to engage in combat missions, with the subtle difference that they are never called “combat missions” anymore. Within that difference, it seems, a whole war can be hidden.
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Glenn
September 1st, 2010 at 10:11 pm
no more wars please,,Love is All that there is <3 =)
theothercanada
September 2nd, 2010 at 1:48 am
WW2 was over in 1945, occupation of defeated countries continues to this day and will remain till the Evil Empire self-destructs. Keep resisting, fight for Freedom and Liberty. Resist Slavery!
Carpenter
September 2nd, 2010 at 11:01 am
"US troops in full combat gear were taking part in an attack on a northern Iraqi village. They no doubt would have been surprised to hear that there is no war in Iraq."
But I thought … no more war? The president says so. The media praised him for it, helped him make this a Big Moment in time for the congressional elections.
Oceania was at war with Eurasia. Oceania had always been at war with Eurasia.
Can't wait for the first U.S. deaths to trickle in. (American mercenaries have already killed Iraqis again I am sure, but nobody cares about those.) Every time more deaths are reported from now on, the journalist won't be able to resist adding "…only X days after President Obama's speech announcing a withdrawal of combat troops."