It's been clear for a while that the only way U.S. troops are going to get out of Iraq with any sort of "face saving" is if the Iraqi government orders them out.

Most importantly, this gives Obama a mandate to begin the draw-down.

bulldg4life:

See? He was only off by 8 years!

Highroller48: It's been clear for a while since the beginning that the only way U.S. troops are going to get out of Iraq with any sort of "face saving" is if the Iraqi government orders them out.

Fixed

By 2012 American forces should be just about ready to pull out from Iran and head up to Russia.
Land war in Asia? You betcha. Obama is from Chicago, and Daley wants these wars.

I don't know about you guys, but I've been writing fan letters, joining the NRA, and giving science the stink eye in hopes of her recognizing my rights to a free and independent Stapleristan in what is now Western Azerbaijan

Highroller48: It's been clear for a while that the only way U.S. troops are going to get out of Iraq with any sort of "face saving" is if the Iraqi government orders them out.

Most importantly, this gives Obama a mandate to begin the draw-down.

The Iraqi government wanted them out two years ago (at least). But yes. I also think it's a last minute face saving effort on Bushs part so he can try to say he brought them home

Wow, just in time for another Presidential race. Who'da thunk it.

An agreement done under the Bush administration that, if it doesn't work and the place implodes in violence, will be pinned on Obama just in time for the Republicans.

Guy Innagorillasuit: Fixed

I don't disagree. Bushco certainly saw this war as a way to establish a permanent force presence as far back as 2003.

Highroller48: I don't disagree. Bushco certainly saw this war as a way to establish a permanent force presence as far back as 2003.

HA! He's been planning the war in Iraq a lot longer than that. I'm just not sure he figured the part about how we have to secure the oil fields for generations to come after taking them over.

So, we won, right?

Bush is a surrender-monkey.

And our worst president ever.

Palin 2012? Hell nooooooo.

/Republican
//looking forward to purging the party following our recent ass kicking
///Obama is the lesser Satan, Rove is the greater Satan.

Just remember kiddies, everything bad is Bush's fault, and Obama has a 52/47 percent mandate to remove what's left of your freedoms.

/not his brother's keeper.

No artificial timetables?

Withdrawal is only effective if the troops haven't been deployed yet.

Gonz: So, we won, right?

Yes and we won a wrecked economy. To the victors go the spoils.

This doesn't make any difference. Didn't obama say he's going to start and immediate withdrawl when he takes office?

ha-ha-guy: Palin 2012? Hell nooooooo.

/Republican
//looking forward to purging the party following our recent ass kicking
///Obama is the lesser Satan, Rove is the greater Satan.

Rational thought in my Republicans?

Gothmolly: Just remember kiddies, everything bad is Bush's fault, and Obama has a 52/47 percent mandate to remove what's left of your freedoms.

/not his brother's keeper.

So you're saying Bush and his crew laid the groundwork for B HUSSEIN OBAMA to take our freedoms? Those devious Bastards!

weatherwax: ha-ha-guy: Palin 2012? Hell nooooooo.

/Republican
//looking forward to purging the party following our recent ass kicking
///Obama is the lesser Satan, Rove is the greater Satan.

Rational thought in my Republicans?

He/she was doing so good riiiiight up until that point and I guess the end of it to.

weatherwax: Rational thought in my Republicans?

Don't worry, it won't last.

Bush is a coward that is aiding and emboldening the Terrorists, it is bad enough he is not supporting the troops, but he is making the United States vulnerable to Terrorist attacks

Is that enough Rovian hipocracy for a lame duck President? or do we need more examples of divisive proclamations we have heard in the last 6 years?

I can see us undertaking a "total troop withdrawal by 2011." However, I don't see us withdrawing completely. We'll probably have a military base in Iraq for perpetuity. It's what we do. We blow the fark out of a country and set up a base there for "strategic purposes." (re: Japan, Germany, Korea, and so forth.)

Highroller48: weatherwax: Rational thought in my Republicans?

Don't worry, it won't last.

Gothmolly: Obama has a 52/47 percent mandate to remove what's left of your freedoms.

See?

Hmmm. I thought Obama was going to withdraw immediately.

Can we start calling this the Failed Obama Presidency yet?

Yes We Can!

Thank me for my time.

Shostie: However, I don't see us withdrawing completely.

I don't see Iraq giving you a choice. It's not UP to the U.S> whether or not they keep a base open. That's the whole point of this agreement. It's not that the U.S. is agreeing to stay for 3 more years, it's that Iraq is agreeing to LET you stay.

DrillSergeantPoopyPants: I thought Obama was going to withdraw immediately.

The makes it EASIER. Again people fail at comprehension. This isn't an agreement by the U.S. to stick around...it's an order by Iraq to GTFO, with a deadline of Dec 31 2011.

I can't wait until this hits FReeper land. I never went there until recently, but holy crap it's the funniest thing in the world these days.

Kimball_Kinnison: Is that enough Rovian hipocracy for a lame duck President? or do we need more examples of divisive proclamations we have heard in the last 6 years?

Man, what I wouldn't do for a government made entirely of hippos.
Rovian Hippos, just think how awesome that would be.

Screw all that fancy talk and diplomawhatever.
You put Putin, Ahmedinijhad, Sarkozy et al in a room with some mofoing Rovian hippos and just let the glorious sounds of Americana/hippo chomping fill the air like perfumed rain.

As a member of Palin 2012, So what!!!!!! Who Cares!

staplermofo: By 2012 American forces should be just about ready to pull out from Iran and head up to Russia.
Land war in Asia?

Sigh.

Never get involved in a land war in Asia.

There's also the teeny tiny little detail that presidents can't make treaties of this kind with foreign governments without the express permission of congress.

bringbackwhatshappening: As a member of Palin 2012, So what!!!!!! Who Cares!

Yeah, don't let things like real world events get in front of being a down home all American Joe Sixpack kind of hockey mom.

NutWrench: There's also the teeny tiny little detail that presidents can't make treaties of this kind with foreign governments without the express permission of congress.

Hush, you. If the last 8 years have taught me anything, it's that the Supreme Lead- I mean president wields all the power of the government.

EliteAnalyst

THIS.

EliteAnalyst: Marxists hate Palin because she is beautiful and happy. Marxists hate beauty and happiness.

*spit take*

EliteAnalyst: One would have to look back to the Eisenhower 1950s for parallels to this grotesque lock-step parade of bourgeois provincialism, shallow groupthink and blind prejudice."

Except you skipped the best of the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and today. Quoting talking points doesn't make them true.

Obama wanted to put his tail between his legs and was ready and willing to sacrifice a war effort for political gain. At least McCain wanted to leave once the job was done, and it looks like the job is just about done. Lucky you Obama. Personally, I think the whole, "This war is lost! We have to get out now! Its hopeless! We've failed!", rhetoric since the war started has died down now that things are becoming more stable. It almost seems like they're disappointed it wasn't quite as disastrous as they had hoped.

This is a bad move. Iraq is still a part of OPEC, and signed a contract with China to begin work on Iraq's oilfields. We have not gained control of the flow of oil coming out of Iraq, which is necessary for the survival of the US in the long term. It is not too late for the US to take the necessary steps to ensure our survival, but things are starting to look grim.

evilgreg: Never get involved in a land war in Asia.

Okay okay, we flood Ukraine and sail in.

Gothmolly: Just remember kiddies, everything bad is Bush's fault, and Obama has a 52/47 percent mandate to remove what's left of your freedoms.

Obama had a man date? What did his wife think?

NutWrench: There's also the teeny tiny little detail that presidents can't make treaties of this kind with foreign governments without the express permission of congress.

Again...NOT a treaty. Not even close. Wow, people really don't get the whole"Iraq gets to decide when you have to GTFO" concept.


It's a very simple process:

Iraq: GTFO!
Bush: But we wanna stay! 10 more years, please!
Iraq: No. GTFO!
Bush: 5 years?
Iraq: No. GTFO!
Bush: How about 3?
Iraq: Fine, if it'll shut you up, 3 years.

Perhaps I should have worded the headline differently:
"Iraq agrees to give U.S. until Dec 31, 2011 to GTFO."

Semi-Sane: This is a bad move. Iraq is still a part of OPEC, and signed a contract with China to begin work on Iraq's oilfields. We have not gained control of the flow of oil coming out of Iraq, which is necessary for the survival of the US in the long term. It is not too late for the US to take the necessary steps to ensure our survival, but things are starting to look grim.

after all these years there, and we haven't accomplished anything towards that goal?

not really, since the war in Iraq played less than a 15% role in people's decisions to vote a certain way.

it's the economy, stupid.

Didn't Barrack say that he would get us out by 2010? Lies!!!

oh yeah, the "this is bad news.....for (blank)" cliche is farking retarded, along with the Nanny state and the "to test our faith" cliche's. Farks getting farking sloppy lately.

EliteAnalyst Marxists hate Palin because she is beautiful and happy. Marxists hate beauty and happiness.

Something about not opening your mouth to remove all doubt. You're the sort which Palin was easily capable of galvanizing with cries of domestic terrorism and covert Islam. The only question is, do you simply spout talking points filled with big words you don't understand, or have you forgotten how to tie your shoelaces in order to make room in the cramped quarters you call your mind?

We already set up camp. The military is not ever leaving there. Look at Bahrain. We have a constant rotation. My husband is going to Iraq in March and will be in Afghanistan next rotation.