The U.S. military now stands alone in Iraq

Digital Journal ^ | 8/23/2009 | Larry Clifton

[DJ Elliott]

Officially, the occupation (Phase IV) ended on 1 January 2009. That is when the UN Mandate terminated. It is the official end of the Iraq War. [Just like the final peace treaty and withdraw of Soviet forces in Germany terminated WWII for Germany in the 1990s.]

The US negotiated a bilateral deal to stay longer. With the exceptions of NATO, UK, and Romania, the rest simply left before 1 Jan. Romania and UK switched to training only and they departed. NATO Training Mission - Iraq is still operational.

[gandalftb]

Why won’t the name change from the “Multinational” designator to “US” designator until next January?

[HollyB]

US forces hands were tied when Iraqi forces promised to protect Iranian dissidents, yet did otherwise:

The video:

http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=011008&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=8613382&referralPlaylistId=playlist

Story:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/24/questions-raised-role-iranian-dissidents-raided-iraqi-forces/

[HollyB]

If anyone knows the whole story regarding this video, I’d like to hear it.

The story reads that the Iranian dissidents were peacefuly protesting when this occurred. It’s a sad state all over these days.

[DJ Elliott]

My best guess is they need to use up the stationary.
I am already calling them USF-I...

[SunkenCiv]

the story is BS -- the very next sentence basically blames President Bush and the Surge for the (recent, minor) escalation.

the Iraqi coalition originally forged between 38 countries has dwindled to one, a coalition of one... After the departure of British, Romanian and Australian troops last month, the remaining 130,000-odd American troops are now the only foreign force in MNF-I.