Posted on 10/21/2011 9:33:36 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
Sources tell ABC News that the president will announce today that US troops in Iraq will draw down to zero by the end of the year.
A White House official says that at approximately 11:30am today, President Obama convened a secure video conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to talk with him about this news.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Obama preempted Andy Griffith and it was an episode I hadn’t seen! The nerve!
Party time in ole Tehran tonight. Break out the non alcoholic beer and wine. Throw in a few stonings of infidels. Great time to be had by all.
A great triumph for O. Never mind that al Maliki is essentially kicking us out in order to initiate a “partnership” with Iran.
Part of the motivation might be eliminating a large outflow of our money. There are no ways of cutting expenses that are free from drawbacks. Maybe this drawdown will interfere with our objectives in Iraq. So be it. We gotta cut expenses, don’t we?
I’m anxious to hear feedback from our military experts.
Here is an additional clip with Pelosi, Biden, and other Dem leaders saying the same thing as mentioned before (see Post 57)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUeIrUsApuE&feature=related
In terms of Zero, I can't believe he started his press conference with a reaffirmation of his campaign promise; as if this was his plan. He had been trying to negotiate to remain there to the end. Disingenuous and self-centered as usual. He also gave a rather somber summation, rather than providing our troops the leadership and adequate recognition of a job well done. I would have prefered that he had taken measure of our accomplishments; the war is won, and our troops deserve praise not just a ride home.
As for Iraq, leave them to their fate.
Agreed.
Meanwhile..as Barry does his victory dance ,
US casualties continue to be at record levels in Afghanistan.
For the third year in a row.
I know it’s just a coincidence...
http://www.defense.gov/releases/
This list is just for thirty days.
Unlike Obama, Never Forget.
Shipping the troops to Africa...under the radar, of course.
They violated the terms of the Cease Fire that temporarily put an end to the First Gulf War, so in essence it was a continuation of the First Gulf War.
What a great guy. Not too ethical to use the troops to gain points.
“Hmm, maybe he will need as many troops back here as possible for 2012 so when Martial Law is declared he can keep things in check.
[TINFOIL ALERT]”
You and me both.
>>> LOL; I think you mean Xe Services LLC.
You really think that was worth a LOL?
Yes I know the retagging of the company. But most people recognize Blackwater, not Xe. That was the point of the name-change. Just trying to keep the post clear and unencumbered.
It shows that the meeting did not last long. I doubt its duration exceeded Obama's 20-min attention span. Actually, I am surprised he found time at all considering how busy his Presidential schedule is today:
The only thing is the order of Iraq’s breakup into it’s component nationalities. I’m betting the Kurds are getting ready to split. They’re already feeling heat from Turkey, so they’re probably going to pull the Peshmerga forces back to defend the homeland. Nothing to fight for in Iraq any longer.
One of these days we’ll wake-up to reports of al Quds forces operating in the open in Basra.
There will be neighborhood violence in Baghdad. The Sunni’s will quickly back a “Strong-Man” in an effort to defend the center.
Question is: What can the US do once the split begins? Who do you back when there essentially is no Iraq?
“One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line.”
—President Bill Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998
“If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction program.”
—President Bill Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998
“Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face.”
—Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998
“He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983.”
—Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998
“[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq’s refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs.”
Letter to President Clinton, signed by:
— Democratic Senators Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others, Oct. 9, 1998
“Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.”
-Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998
“Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies.”
— Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999
“There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies.”
Letter to President Bush, Signed by:
— Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), and others, Dec 5, 2001
“We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and th! e means of delivering them.”
— Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002
“We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country.”
— Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
“Iraq’s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.”
— Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
“We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.”
— Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002
“The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons...”
— Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002
“I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force — if necessary — to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.”
— Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002
“There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction.”
— Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002
“He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do”
— Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002
“In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.”
— Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002
“We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction.”
— Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002
“Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America’s response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real...”
— Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003
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