Reports today suggest that the Iraqi government is set on not requesting the Obama Administration to keep “troops” on the ground beyond the end of the Status of Forces Agreement in December, instead asking for thousands of “trainers.”
The move appears to solidify comments by Vice President Hashimi over the weekend, when he insisted that the extention was not in the interest of the Iraqi government. It would also calm public outcry over the possibility of continuing the occupation.
But in some ways, it may be a distinction without a difference. Thousands of US contractors or military trainers will still be a significant foothold in the country, and with the State Department’s “private army” still in the plans, the US will retain the sort of onerous presence which will not only ensure continued controversy, but will provide all sorts of opportunities to re-escalate the conflict.
A statement from Iraq’s Foreign Ministry suggested that the US ambassador is ok with this situation as well, saying the “withdrawal” would be carried out as planned. Since US officials have made no bones about wanting to keep a presence in the nation for years after 2011, this appears to be a satisfactory compromise for them.
hahahaha….amazing, stunning hypocrites!
Trainers don't carry guns. This is shaping up as a tremendous victory for the Iraqis. They're standing by the letter of the status of forces agreement in spite of massive pressure from the US to keep 50,000 troops in Iraq permanently. It never was a case of them taking a long time to make up their minds- as it's been portrayed recently by the Pentagon. The Iraqis wanted the Americans gone before the war even started. They were the enemy, remember? Big surprise that they want their conquerers to go home.
The wierd thing is that under the fiction that Iraq had been liberated, the "Liberators" have to listen to the "Liberated" when they finally get a chance to say time is up.
It's going to be interesting to see how the MSM plays this. I suspect the story will just be buried, and Iraq will be forgotten. By Christmas.
"It's going to be interesting to see how the MSM plays this. I suspect the story will just be buried, and Iraq will be forgotten. By Christmas."
Casey Anthony stories outnumber Iraq stories by about 200 to 1. The American media is worse than pathetic.
It clearly shows that the entire process of Status of Forces Agreement was about nomenclature of US occupation. The US occupation was never called by proper name, hence the matter was about which euphemism to use? Entire drama remind one of bizzaro world.
The US were never liberators they were there to make money and if it ment hundreds of thousands mostly civilian death they could care less.The US better use its brains and leave Afganistan and not to start an Illegal war with Iran that will involve many and turn into WW3.All for Israel that could care less about American life.Just look at the Sampson Option they threaten to take America with them if they dont help them no matter if wrong or write.Leave them to deal with there own problems America has to much of there own and it has alot to do with Israel.They are not GODs chosen so christians wake up they look at you like sub human and are glag the Jews in the Bible called for his death.There are vidios on U-Tube many of them were they call Jesus a dog and are glad they were responsible for his death.Trust me if you have not looked at there Samson option you dont realize how evil they are Jesus called them children of there father the devil.America like many places are not christian nations they consist of many belifes and all need to be respected.Im from Canada and dont judge people for what religion they follow we live in the year 2011 not the middel ages.
Well, of course the US Ambassador is "OK" with the situation… A few thousand "trainers" (who are NOT considered "troops" though they carry weapons and receive the associated combat pay supplementals) and their required support staff (which will include administrative/logistical support staff – and – their protection forces (since the "trainers" are not fighters but "trainers") will probably bring the number of personnel in-country to around 20,000? And as for the "protection" forces for the "trainers", does that include the State Department's mercenary Army? How many "protectors" does it take to protect an embassy staff of 1,000 permanent and 3,000 additional staffers on a secure 104 acre compund? Another 5,000?
So, if this goes as they suggest, there will still be roughly 25,000 US personnel on the ground in a place where they are not wanted costing billions of $$ we really don't have to spend.
just how many 'trainers' will remain in Iraq indefinitely to protect the oil pipeline running to Israel?
Surely we can't put a price on Israel's energy security, now can we?
I offer a prayer of hope to the Iraqis, decimated as they are by war and occupation – Please do not stop until all the foreign troops are out of your nation and the oil flow to Jewistan is disrupted.
A strong alliance with Iran and Pakistan will help.
Pathetic.
I hope you Iraqi politicians are happy with selling your country down the river for a few dollars. Best you start building your safe houses- Sadr's bound to be against this plan.
Precisely as I said a few days ago on this thread: Sadr is as much an American whore as all the other so called leaders of any of the Arab countries.They are all bought and paid for. Sadr will rationalize this "double-speak" and pretend/convince himself and his docile followers that this not an occupation. A murderous occupier by any other name, is still an occupier…… hey Sadr, grow a pair and live up to your word you treasonous bastard! How patheric. How sad. How obscene
Uh, huh. An old Obama trick, recycling troops under a more friendly sounding name like 'trainer' – yep. We've heard it before. Same dog with different fleas.
IF the American presence now is incapable of dealing with the people protecting there land and familys how can they expect to deal with it when they leave.More Iraqies will fight and Americans will be so outnumberd I can';t see them lasting long.Just leave F Israel and the pipeline going there have they ever helped America no they are the main reason for its downfall.And the corrupt President and the rest of government except very very few like Ron Paul and Dennis Kisinech.America just imbaresed themselfs well killing 100 of thousand of innocent people.They are not Terrorists or crazy if the same was happning here or anywere they would do anything to protect there familys.Kill a persons familly in any country any mom or dad would kill themselfs to get as many people responsible.Your puppet government will not survive this is life and death one day you NEOCONS WILL BE ON THE WRONG END OF THE STICK HAVING PEOPLE YOU LOVE DIE IF YOU HAVE THE HEART TO LOVE.
They are not soldiers dammit! They are "trainers". You got that! They are not mercenary cold-blooded killers! They are "contractors"! You got that!
And they are not leaving Iraq either. It's a freshly conquered province of the American empire. YOU GOT THAT!!