Posted on 06/30/2009 4:14:36 AM PDT by forkinsocket
BAGHDAD - Four U.S. soldiers were killed in combat on the eve of the withdrawal of American troops from Baghdad and other Iraq cities, the U.S. military said, as Iraqi forces on Tuesday assumed control for security in urban areas.
The U.S. military said the four soldiers served with the Multi-National Division-Baghdad but did not provide further details pending notification of their families. It said they died as a "result of combat related injuries."
The withdrawal that was completed on Monday is part of a U.S.-Iraqi security pact and marks the first major step toward withdrawing all American forces from the country by Dec. 31, 2011. President Barack Obama has said all combat troops will be gone by the end of August 2010.
The Iraqi government has named June 30 "National Sovereignty Day" and declared a public holiday.
President Jalal Talabani said the day could not have happened without the help of the United States, which invaded Iraq in 2003 and ousted Saddam Hussein — who was later convicted by an Iraqi court and executed in Dec. 2006.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
As I understand it, our troops remain nearby and available to support Iraqi forces if needed?
I sometimes despair of prospects for ultimate success there. What possible justification can there be for attacking them as they withdraw? How can a people allow such evil to live among them?
LLS
Just wait and when the pullout is at full speed, every Shia Mahdi Militia member and every Sunni AQI will be in Baghdad fighting over territory. Training will be shooting rockets at what is left of US Forces in Baghdad for training, and the number of bodies floating down the Tigris will be so large that is will dam up the river completely - if not the sewer system. The number of Iraq (if that’s what one will call them) politicians assassinated will be so overwhelming that the news will not be able to keep up with it and will choose more “light” stories to cover because of the complete and utter chaos that will be transpiring in Iraq on a daily basis.
There is absolutely nothing that this culture wants other than destruction of others and anyone not part of their tribe! It is the tribe mentality that has brought Islam to light and it is Islam that has allowed the tribe mentality to survive all these hundreds of years. Until the these so-called religious leaders are disposed of and the masses allowed to choose freely a “peaceful” religion nothing is going to change in the Middle East.
All the while, Iran continues forward and the US covers it’s face because a president was bought out by the very people who want her head on a mantle...
RIP.
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