Commander Says Iraq Transition on Track

[cory777]

Source: American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2011 – As the Dec. 31 departure date approaches for approximately 46,000 U.S. troops remaining in Iraq, Iraqi security forces in the north are prepared to manage internal security and external defense, a U.S. brigade commander posted in Iraq said today.

“It's not the end of something, it's the transition of something,” Army Col. Brian Winski, commander of 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, told Pentagon reporters today during a video briefing from U.S. Division North headquarters at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, near Tikrit.

Since the “Long Knife Brigade” deployed in September 2010, Winski has led the mission to advise, train and assist Iraqi security forces throughout Nineveh province and Mosul.

His forces’ main efforts over the year, the commander said, have been to transition former U.S. bases to Iraqi control, and help the Iraqi army rebuild combat skills that have languished over several years of employing police functions during counterinsurgency operations.

Read more: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=65229

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[Ter]

1. “It's not the end of something, it's the transition of something”

Just what I was afraid of.

[TheWraith]

3. And what does that mean?

Are you expecting it to mean that the troops don't leave?

[Ter]

8. Of course that's what it means

Like last year when Obama said the war in Iraq was over and had transitioned into a peace-keeping mission. It was a farce then and a farce now. Obama never had any intention of leaving.

[No Elephants]

2. Supposedly, we've been training Iraqis to take over since shortly after we invaded.

Do they think someone wipes our memories once a week?

I am so damned tired of bullshit from our public "servants."

[Enthusiast]

7. They figure enough of us are

so easily led and so easily propagandized that the remaining aware citizens don't matter. I suspect if we raised enough hell about it they would just kill us.

[LetTimmySmoke]

4. The everlasting war. This is a product of the Military-Industrial-Complex's insatiable greed.

[trud]

5. you got that right

Notice how increased spending in Afghanistan now matches the decreased spending in Iraq.

[Enthusiast]

6. It is ridiculous to

keep those troops there until December 31st.

The Iraq operation achieved nothing of true lasting value except for the war profiteers.