In comments that were half pep-talk about the chances of Iraqi forces and half attempt to combat criticism among US politicians of the idea of ending the Iraq occupation, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta insisted Iraq would be just fine.
“Iraq itself has developed an effective fighting force,” Panetta said, insisting they were more than capable of fighting the “Iran-backed militias” in the country on their own.
Lost in Panetta’s comments, of course, is the reality that the Shi’ite militias, which the US has constantly maintained were Iran-backed, were fighting the US occupation forces. In their absence those groups don’t even anticipate existing, let alone fighting a largely pro-Iran Maliki government.
Panetta was quick to insist the US is going to continue to keep massive numbers of combat troops in the region, including tens of thousands in tiny Kuwait. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton likewise made this something to do with Iran, saying they oughtn’t mistake the withdrawal from Iraq as an end to the US presence in the region.
"…half attempt to combat criticism among US politicians of the idea of ending the Iraq occupation,…"
Just the fact that US politicians were critiscising teh end of the Iraq occupation tells me that the US is hopeless, a lost cause.
"Panetta: US Will Keep Large Numbers of Troops Around Iraq"—Iran is "around" Iraq. Looks like Panetta is doing his best "Ticky Dick" impersonation. When TSHTF in Iran, don't look for Russia/China to sit by and watch. They have investments there.
FUCK THE USA!!!!!!! THE FOURTH REICH SHALL BE BURIED ONE DAY!!!
They have to leave today or tomorrow this region as how long Arabs can finance invaders and for american treasury is biggest burden and will destroy america economically.
Peace boost the economy and war desroyes and americans must learn from the history which is for them very difficult as they are only for wars and occupations.
The fact is that we had a South Korea model in mind. Which was fairly ignorant considering that we never managed to balkanize the country. I do believe that was our goal but we underestimated the people of Iraq.
The MSM tries to play up the Shia, Sunni divide but in the end they still have a strong national identity. It will always be "them" against "us". (not that they won't fight each other, it's just that neither of them wants us)
The Kurds of course are a different story, they just want to be Kurds and they don't care who they have to fight or who they have to suck up to so they can be left alone.
So why in the heck are we so insistant on hanging around? Israel? Iran? Syria? Oil? The holy city? the end times? I think it's all of the above. That is the true coalition. Vested interests.
Maybe they simply don't know why, and TEHREFORE are afraid of losing the grip on everything. Like a madman, pure and simple!
I guess that makes as much sense as anything right now.
and they will be targets
Of course they will, the establishment isn't going to let some country decide on their own that they suddenly don't want to be occupied any more. They have to accept America's holy benevolent occupation or else…we might have to invade them again for daring to be free and disobeying the commands of the world neoconnery.