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Say What?
Quick question. Did President Obama say that US troops wouldn't be out of Iraq until 2012? Will it then be 2013 then 2016? What's up with the moving timeline? Just asking. And I'm refering to what the President said in his speech on June 4th.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaxZPiiKyMw
about 22 minutes in. It was such a good speech that I missed it the first time.
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Who knows for sure depending on what happens in the region. I know that the Iraqi's are going to vote on an intiative that would require us to be out sooner.
June 14, 2009 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Professor, we will be out of the cities by July, others out by August, all troops out 2012. We stay and help train....
I dunno. I do not know if this is a real change or not. We shall see what is left over after August of this year.
Thanks for the bookmark though.
June 14, 2009 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
"by 2012" could mean "no later than December 31, 2011". Obama did hesitate as he voiced that line. Could be a sign of internal dissonance.
"in 2012" and "by the end of 2012" would be different statements, so I'd go with the above interpretation unless you have other evidence to the contrary.
I suspect that Iraq will request that the US keep some troops in Iraq longer, in an advisory and training capacity. I don't see any more problem with that than the US have troops in about what, 50 countries now?
I think the unsaid hypocrisy here is the distinction of "contractors". If the US is paying or directing contractors, those should be removed too (except for the Embassy which is nominally USA territory anyway). Or, the Iraqis can hire them directly and independently.
June 14, 2009 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink