I've said all along that giving the enemy a timeline was not a good idea, but that's what we've done here. (Thanks, stupid Democrats.)
The media is acting like this December 2011 withdrawal date is something new, but it was outlined in the SOFA in December 2008.
All logistics and associated efforts since early '09 have focused on this being the date US forces were going to leave.
The Iraqis would like to see a contingent remain of course, because anyone with a handful of working brain cells knows that Iran is rubbing its evil hands together, just waiting to pounce and impose its Islamofacist garbage on Iraq. They've been infiltrating Iraq all along.
Unfortunately, Iraq wanted our forces to stay on Iraq's terms and I fully support the US in refusing that.
I would not be surprised to see the GoI ask the US back sometime in 2012, but unless it's on terms that will protect our troops, it shouldn't happen. I hope Iraq will come to its senses on this. The US has invested too much over the past several years to just hand the country to Iran.
Thanks for the reply. Will many of the contractors be leaving with the troops?