After Seven Years, Final U.S. Combat Brigade Leaves Iraq

Fox News ^ | 8/18/2010 | Fox News

[Dallas59]

KHABARI CROSSING, Kuwait -- As their convoy reached the barbed wire at the border crossing out of Iraq on Wednesday, the soldiers whooped and cheered. Then they scrambled out of their stifling hot armored vehicles, unfurled an American flag and posed for group photos.

For these troops of the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, it was a moment of relief fraught with symbolism. Seven years and five months after the U.S.-led invasion, the last American combat brigade was leaving Iraq, well ahead of President Obama's Aug. 31 deadline for ending U.S. combat operations there. ------

[EternalVigilance]

Thanks.

[mcshot]

I think Iraq was an unworkable Country when drawn up and your post which I agree with sums up why. Tyrannical leader needed.

[CodeToad]

I thought I read just yesterday that 65,000 troops remain in Iraq.

[anchorclankor]

My grandson is still at combat outpost Shocker, a mile or so from the Iran border, he’s there until the middle of Sept.

[BnBlFlag]

As they bug out, my son’s unit prepares to go in.

My nephew and his wife are both Warrant Officers in Army Aviation. She just got back from Afghanistan and he is fixin’ to leave for his second tour in Iraq. I’m getting a little concerned about their Base Security with the Ground Pounders pulling out. Hopefully, their ROE won’t have them guarding the perimeter with unloaded weapons or even worse, no ammo at all.

[EternalVigilance]

Well, my son is a National Guardsman who is pretty darned handy with a .50 cal. Before he left I told him “screw the ROE, pull the damned trigger.”

[crabpott]

Long time ago now. Late 69 early 70. Flitting in and out of
Saigon. Down in Cholon suddenly realizing no more Airborn grunts(101?)hanging around the BX and Plantation Road bars. The one’s that had been guarding Saigon. Guarding me. They were gone. Vietnamzation. Only White Mice in sight.
On a USAF bus with bared windows heading downtown to make an USO call home, staring at the US Embassy a block away, and suddenly noticing the granade roll out from under the bus and bouncing to a stop against a wall. WWII pineapple type. A dud.
So what's changed? Nothing. Same Democrats and a war they really don't want to win. New boss same as the old boss.I remember that peculiar feeling of being way to alone in a foreign country, in a lost cause war and it was time to go home. No friendly natives now. All enemies now. They knew we we're leaving them to vengeful victor. Just history repeating itself. You know the rest.