Iraq Withdrawal Date For U.S. Troops May Be Pushed Back Beyond 2011

[Better Believe It]

Iraq Withdrawal Date For U.S. Troops May Be Pushed Back Beyond 2011
By Amanda Terkel
May 11, 2011

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is evaluating whether to keep troops in Iraq beyond the planned withdrawal date, a decision that would extend an unpopular war that the American public expected to end this year.

The Status of Forces Agreement signed by Iraq and the United States during the Bush administration says all U.S. troops must leave Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011. But the contract also leaves the door open to further negotiations that would delay withdrawal.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said members of the Iraqi government have indicated they are "very open to a continuing presence" by the United States.

"And so the politicians, I think, the leaders understand the need for this kind of help, but no one wants to be the first one there supporting it," added Gates, acknowledging such a decision will face resistance in Iraq (not to mention in the United States, where just 33 percent of the public now supports the war).

Read the full article at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/11/iraq-withdrawal-2011-delay_n_860188.html



There are still 47,000 U.S. troops and 63,000 American contractors along with 100 U.S. bases and 1 million pieces of military equipment in Iraq! BBI

[LetTimmySmoke]

1. Endless war is patriotic!

http://whitehouse.georgewbush.org/initiatives/posters/iraq-victory.asp

http://whitehouse.georgewbush.org/initiatives/posters/oil-schmoil.asp

I wonder if this has anything to do with the price of oil going up to near $200/bbl. Gotta make sure those Iraqi oil fields are safe for profiteering? Er I mean freedomeering!

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Same Obama, Different Day

[Vinnie From Indy]

3. Any more questions about who runs America?

It is not the vast majority of Americans that are begging, pleading and demanding an end to these wars. It is the oil companies and the merchants of death in the MIC. We will keep fighting, dying and killing so a small elite can live like kings.

[tekisui]

4. Yep. It's been coming down the pike for a while now.

[Better Believe It]

5. Kick