Brennan says Iraq troop levels will decrease throughout 2011
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/11/art.brennan.file.gi.jpg caption ="National Security Advisor John Brennan said Tuesday that troop levels in Iraq will continue to diminish throughout 2011."](CNN) - John Brennan, the president's national security adviser for homeland security, said Tuesday that the total number of U.S. troops in Iraq will continue to diminish throughout 2011, but that noted that the withdrawal rate will be "calibrated and adjusted based on conditions on the ground."
All U.S. combat forces are scheduled to be out of Iraq by December 31, 2011.
The total number of U.S. troops in Iraq has now fallen below 50,000. The U.S. military mission in Iraq will officially switch to an "advise-and-assist" role starting September 1.
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Hmm.. They never tell you how many mercenaries, oops, I meant contractors, are there. Have a nice day!
Al Quida In Iraq's founder, George Bush is brushed further into the ash heap of History by the firm, principled and ethical leadership of President Obama. Huzzah!
Another campaign promise kept Mr. President. It's time to bring this sorrid chapter in American history to a close. Iraq will go down as the worst military decision made by an American president in 100 years or more.
This is good news to hear. I would really like to see our troops completely out of Iraq by the end of this year. But if the Iraqi Security Forces need more training, then so be it. Let them fight for their country. The longer we stay there, the more eager and willing that Al-Queda in Iraq will carry out attacks.
And he should thank the surge strategy that enabled all this (in spite of then senator Obama opposing it!!!)
Dan and RAG crack me up. The extraction plan for out troops was laid in place by Bush.
Dan August 24th, 2010 12:35 pm ET
"And he should thank the surge strategy that enabled all this (in spite of then senator Obama opposing it!!!)"
Uh, don't you think that the "Sunni Awakening" and bribes in high places had more to do with it than the surge? Where do you think those missing billions went? Certainly not to repairing the Iraqi infrastructure. Have a nice day!
@ Dan
You fail to mention that then Sen. Obama voted NO against the war in the first place. If you are going to criticize the POTUS, make sure you get your facts in order. I don't see how you can vote yes for a measure when you're against the war as whole.
Boehner is a disagrace to our military troops who serve under the Commander in Chief President Obama. Our brave men and women serve at the command of the President and not for political party preference. Boehner is a disgrace on American soil.
bring them home.president obama.we had no buisness being there.QUESTION FOR ALL YOU RIGHTIES.WAR MOUNGLERS.WAS IT WORTH IT. AND WHAT DO YOU CALL A WIN.
When is this government going to get the courage to just "get out" of Iraq????
To Old Farmboy: "The extraction plan for out troops was laid in place by Bush"
Yeah. So was the "plan" to get us into an ill-advised war which was based on lies and cost us millions of dollars and thousands of lives.
I just got off the phone with my son who is in Iraq with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th infantry Division. He will be there through July of 2011. Putting it mildly, they were less than amused about the news stories of last week showing the "last American brigade combat team" leaving Iraq.
There are many brigade combat teams still in Iraq. And the terrorists in Iraq are still trying to kill and are killing American soldiers. And the American soldiers are still trying to kill the terrorists.
Don't let these news stories mislead you. The role for the remaining American soldiers in Iraq may be officially called something different than what it was called last week, but the reality remains the same. The American forces remaining in Iraq are fully combat capable and are prepared to engage any threats.
The real concern should be our troops in Afghanistan.What about them Obama?You call that the "good war" How about bringing them home?Obama had nothing to do with the troops coming home from Iraq,that was decided long before Obama became president.
Posted by:
Randolph Carter, I'm no expert, but... August 24th, 2010 12:13 pm ET
"Hmm.. They never tell you how many mercenaries, oops, I meant contractors, are there. Have a nice day"!
Predictable effeminate male response.
As stated in another thread, no matter what he opposed before, President Obama ended that nightmare war and President Bush lied us err uh mean got us in that war. We will scratch that off the list of Republican Jihadist dumb ideas that President Obama had to fix. I cannot wait until he second term, oh yes we will make sure he serves a second term, because there are still more of us who love President Obama than more of you who hate the color of his skin, believe that!
@old farmboy
Really? You're saying that there was a plan to remove troops by 2011 during the Bush/Cheney years? It must have been kept top-secret as no one else heard about it. I seem to remember them, and virtually all Republicans, saying that we can not and MUST NOT set a deadline for removing American troops from Iraq. I don't think there was any sort of plan to bring our troops home by the previous administration. Oh wait, once we defeated the axis of evil and brought American democracy to the savages in the Middle East, THEN we could declare "Mission Accomplished", right?
Well, if it doesn't work out the way Obama and his administration want it to they will always fall back on the blame game and blame Bush......what an inept President we have.
Hurray!
Thank goodness for Bush's surge and a wonderful military. Hopefully all can come home safely.
(Again, DEMOCRATS and republicans voted to got to war in CONGRESS. Also, after the surge, it was predicted that the military would come home in 2010-11 anyway–nothing to do with Obama.)
Old Farmboy – What do you expect? Evidently, either these posters were born yesterday and haven't had any history lessons yet or they just refuse to hear the truth.
@ Randolph Carter, who said "Hmm.. They never tell you how many mercenaries, oops, I meant contractors, are there. Have a nice day!"
This article said nothing about "contractors." This article talks about the U.S troops. You know, the ones that fight for us and keeps America as safe as possible. I hope you are not generalizing the reamining U.S. forces as "mercenaries." To do so is a slap in the face to every soldier that is still there. It would also go to show that you are, indeed, not an expert – particularly on the mindset of a U.S. soldier, and what he/she is fighting for.
get all our troops home now,,, no more wasted lives in countries that hate us..... iraq and afganistan....
Hooray-
Somebody wants to give George W. "credit" for anything Iraq?
Sorry. No can do.
Guys – Bush lied the USA into a war that killed and/or maimed thousands un-necessarily – not to mention cost billions, some of the money simply disappearing.
Iraq was Bush's response for a bunch of Saudi Arabians attacking New York. Saudi Arabians! So what did he do? Invaded Iraq.
Freakin brilliant!
Bush will always be remembered for the following:
911
Iraq
Katrina
Wall St. bailout – no strings attached.
You guys stay in denial all you want, but throughout history, the George W. Bush presidency will live in infamy! Incomparable!