Analysis: Memo raises questions about Iraq pullout

AP ^ | July 31, 2009 | Robert Burns

[Cheap_Hessian]

WASHINGTON (AP) - An Army colonel's colorfully worded memo arguing for the U.S. to declare victory in Iraq and leave next summer suggests the possibility of an important shift in the debate about U.S. withdrawal plans.

Until now the question has been whether thousands of U.S. troops might need to stay beyond a December 2011 deadline for a complete U.S. pullout, in order to continue training and advising Iraqi forces.

The memo written by Col. Timothy R. Reese, a U.S. adviser to the Iraqi military command, turns that question on its head by asking whether it makes more sense to get out long before the deadline—scrapping President Barack Obama's plan for an extended advisory mission.

For now, Reese's view—"It's time for the U.S. to declare victory and go home"—seems to be in the distinct minority. The conventional wisdom is that in order to avoid an Iraqi collapse that would squander six-plus years of enormous U.S. sacrifices, a residual force of as many as 50,000 U.S. troops should remain to train and advise Iraqis for 16 months after all combat troops depart in August 2010.

Might that change in coming months as Iraqi forces take firmer control and perhaps lose interest in U.S. help?

Might the post-August 2010 advisory mission go forward but with far fewer U.S. troops participating?

[randog]

Funny how the media did a crisp about-face or about Jan 20 '09. I particularly like this line:

"...a residual force of as many as 50,000 U.S. troops should remain..."

About half of the existing troops in Iraq is called "residual"? No, if it was 1 year earlier the headline would be, "Bush Keeps Troops in Iraq Despite Army's Advice".

[rbg81]

I wouldn’t put it past Obama to leave Iraq early and practically hand it to the Iranians.

[Buckeye McFrog]

well, that’s one way to buck for General with a chicken-hearted hippie Commander in Chief....

[LibLieSlayer]

Funny thing... today I saw video of Iraqis complaining about their government running American Military out of the cities too early and allowing terrorists to attack them once again. Once again hussama is ****ing up the world with his every move.

LLS

[elpadre]

remember President Bush's end game, “the US will stand down as the Iraqi stand up.” I would say we are on target.