Obama says most U.S. troops in Iraq home within a year

[bigtree]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama told Americans on Sunday a substantial number of the 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq would be home within a year, saying Iraqis were now ready to take more responsibility for their own security.

Asked in the NBC interview whether a substantial number of troops would be home in time for next year's Super Bowl, the National Football League's championship game being played on Sunday, Obama replied: "Yes. We are going to roll out in a very formal fashion what our intentions are in Iraq as well as Afghanistan."

"In conversations I have had with the joint chiefs, with commanders on the ground, I think we have a sense, now that the Iraqis just had a very significant election with no significant violence, we are in a position to put more responsibility on the Iraqis," Obama said in the interview.

He also said one of the more sobering moments of his young presidency was having to sign letters to send to families of slain soldiers.

read: http://uk.reuters.com/article/gc05/idUKTRE50T6R520090201?sp=true

[Ishoutandscream2]

1. Another excellent way to continue having strong poll numbers

I know that's not the overlying reason, but Obama's likability sure won't be hurt by this.

[bigtree]

2. .

[CLANG]

3. How can they get the title of the article wrong?

He said a "substantial number", not "most". Substantial is a matter of opinion. Some might say 20,000 is a substantial number. I hate that the press lies in the title just to have a "sexier" story.

[Still Sensible]

4. No he did not, he was asked

if a "substantial number" of the troops in Iraq would be out within a year... and he said yes.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

5. US puppet government

wins low-turnout elections. This will enable the US to present a better facade to the occupation.

If you want to keep your eye on what is actually happening look into the Oil sector here:
http://www.iraqoilreport.com/

And as a clear example of how Obama and the US State Dept. plan to continue the occupation note how they looked to replace Blackwater not remove US private contractors.

[anonymous171]

6. I thought the Iraqi government dumped Blackwater?

[Orwellian_Ghost]

7. Here's where it stands for the moment

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4960183&mesg_id=4960183

The occupation will be getting a face lift. Interesting reports here:


Elections: THE Iraq story
Published
by
Iraq Oil Report

Plus:
*Elections and Oil
*Background and context for historic provincial vote
*Oil big in the SIGIR quarterly report to Congress
*Minister of Planning calls for privatizing oil sector
*Japan-Iraq strike strategic agreement, including oil sector
*Chevron exec cagey optimistic on Iraq oil
*Iraq oil unions unite workers for upcoming conference
*Oil price hits Iraq economy, workers
*Much more

http://www.iraqoilreport.com/2009/01/30/elections-the-iraq-story/

[Odin2005]

8. MORE POUTRAGE!!!

:eyes: