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Panetta formally shuts down US war in Iraq
AP via Google News ^ | December 15th 2011 | LOLITA C. BALDOR

Posted on 12/15/2011 7:41:24 AM PST by Cardhu

BAGHDAD (AP) — After nearly nine years, 4,500 American dead and 100,000 Iraqi dead, U.S. officials formally shut down the war in Iraq — a conflict that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said was worth the American sacrifice because it set Iraq on a path to democracy.

Panetta stepped off his military plane in Baghdad Thursday as the leader of America's war in Iraq, but departed as one of many U.S. and global officials who hope to work with the struggling nation as it tries to find its new place in the Middle East and the broader world.

Bombings and gun battles are still common. And experts are concerned about the Iraqi security force's ability to defend the nation against foreign threats.

In addition to the dead, the war left 32,000 Americans wounded and cost the U.S. more than $800 billion.

Still, Panetta said earlier this week, it "has not been in vain."

Panetta and several other U.S. diplomatic, military and defense leaders participated Thursday in a symbolic ceremony during which the flag of U.S. Forces-Iraq was officially retired, or "cased," according to Army tradition. The U.S. Forces-Iraq flag was furled around a flagpole and covered in camouflage. It will be brought back to the United States.

"You will leave with great pride — lasting pride," Panetta told the troops. "Secure in knowing that your sacrifice has helped the Iraqi people to begin a new chapter in history."

During a stop in Afghanistan this week, Panetta described the mission as "making that country sovereign and independent and able to govern and secure itself."

That, he said, is "a tribute to everybody — everybody who fought in that war, everybody who spilled blood in that war, everybody who was dedicated to making sure we could achieve that mission."

(Excerpt) Read more at news.google.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iraq; leonepanetta; leonpanetta; panetta
"Iraqi citizens offered a more pessimistic assessment. "The Americans are leaving behind them a destroyed country," said Mariam Khazim of Sadr City. "The Americans did not leave modern schools or big factories behind them. Instead, they left thousands of widows and orphans."
1 posted on 12/15/2011 7:41:33 AM PST by Cardhu
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To: Cardhu
"...and 100,000 Iraqi dead...

Wait. I thought it was 100,000 Iraqi dead in 2004. Or was that 1998?

2 posted on 12/15/2011 7:43:56 AM PST by rlmorel ("A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." Winston Churchill)
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To: Cardhu

Panetta is a turd of the highest order.


3 posted on 12/15/2011 7:45:00 AM PST by rlmorel ("A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." Winston Churchill)
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To: Cardhu
"The Americans did not leave modern schools or big factories behind them. Instead, they left thousands of widows and orphans."

well, unfortunately, we can't give them Sadaam back, but I'm sure that in our absence, the Iraqis will have no problem replacing him in short order.

4 posted on 12/15/2011 7:48:33 AM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Cardhu

Enter the Muslim Brotherhood...it won’t be long now until we see a new Arab uprising in Iraq, the clock is running.


5 posted on 12/15/2011 7:49:03 AM PST by The Louiswu (Pray for America)
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To: Cardhu

“The Americans did not leave modern schools or big factories behind them. Instead, they left thousands of widows and orphans.”

Go phone Germany and Japan about what you supposedly dont have after a war and cry them a river.

If you dopes weren’t trying so hard to kill Americans for the past 6 years, things would have improved much more. But you wanted us gone so badly, so have fun!


6 posted on 12/15/2011 7:49:22 AM PST by VanDeKoik (1 million in stimulus dollars paid for this tagline!)
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To: Cardhu
The Vietnam war "ended" January 1974.

The last Americans had to be evacuated from the roof of the embassy April 1975.

7 posted on 12/15/2011 7:56:56 AM PST by AU72
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To: rlmorel
Terrorist rejoice, there is a Mohammad Clause.
8 posted on 12/15/2011 8:08:55 AM PST by boomop1 (term limits is the only way to save this country.)
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To: Cardhu

9 posted on 12/15/2011 8:11:42 AM PST by NonValueAdded ("Centralization destroys the blight of monopoly")
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To: Cardhu
The "destroyed country" is a consequence of your fellow Islamic terrorist buddies. It is they who are destroying infrastructure as quickly as it can be built. It is literally pearls before swine. We've pissed away a fortune trying to help Iraq get out from under a brutal dictatorship and rebuild the country. It wasn't and isn't appreciated. The war hasn't been won. We are walking away from a job that can't be finished by playing "nice guy".

As we leave, the Iranians will fill the power void. I expect lots of muslims with different points of view to slaughter each other. The Sunnis, Shias, Wahhabis and other sects will resume the battle against each other and direct more crap our direction...likely on our soil in the U.S.

10 posted on 12/15/2011 8:25:17 AM PST by Myrddin
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To: rlmorel

Oh come on. He’s a Marxist. The only truth to him is what promotes Marxism. Marxists are using the Islamoterrorists to pursue their own agenda of weakening America. Panetta is consistent in his beliefs and objectives.

It must be wonderfully liberating to simply be able to declare something—like the WOT in Iraq is over—and pretend that it really is. Truth and reality are inconvenient annoyances that can and must be ignored.

Having said that, at least know we what Panetta’s position will be on any issue. Have no idea where Gingrich is coming from except is ego driven quest for the presidency.


11 posted on 12/15/2011 9:15:12 AM PST by dools0007world
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To: Cardhu

Let’s see,

9 years trying the help them get their act together.

9 days for the whole thing to come unglued once we leave.

9 months for another 100,000 Iraqis to die.

Priceless.


12 posted on 12/15/2011 9:42:13 AM PST by super7man
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To: dools0007world

This just in: Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, choked to death when a rope got caught around his neck after the platform on which he was standing collapsed.


13 posted on 12/15/2011 9:47:23 AM PST by MasterGunner01 (11)
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To: Cardhu
Iraq was a lost cause in the first place. The UN was wrong and we probably should not have offered troops. The whole region is made up of insane sick ignorant camel jockeys and they will destroy the free world. It is just a matter of time. Even King Obama is part of the destruction of America.
14 posted on 12/15/2011 9:48:54 AM PST by Logical me
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To: dools0007world

I cannot disagree, but even if I do expect a turd to smell...it still smells!


15 posted on 12/15/2011 10:24:05 AM PST by rlmorel ("A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." Winston Churchill)
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To: Cardhu

Is this the signal for the MSM to start blacking out all news from Iraq when the country falls apart?


16 posted on 12/15/2011 11:19:57 AM PST by Spok (From hope and change to change is hopeless. In just the first term.)
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To: Cardhu

as I said on another thread, we should have left when they had their first free election...after that its their country to defend and fight for like we did in our revolution. If they lose their freedom, its their own doing...


17 posted on 12/15/2011 2:54:36 PM PST by goat granny
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To: All

Democracy will NEVER work in those countries - their “religion” DOES NOT allow it, EVER!


18 posted on 12/15/2011 3:29:05 PM PST by jackibutterfly (The American Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks Cardhu. I loved how the media spin monkey included yet another bogus "person on the street" tidbit to bash the US.
"The Americans are leaving behind them a destroyed country," said Mariam Khazim of Sadr City.
Yeah, well, it turns out, the only way to modernize Iraq is to annihilate its population. Jot down this old saying -- "third time's the charm".


19 posted on 12/15/2011 5:01:21 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Merry Christmas, Happy New Year! May 2013 be even Happier!)
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To: rlmorel

Your eloquence is exceeded only by your brevity.

Panetta is a traitor to this country. His sole objective is to destroy it so he and his commie buddies can replace it with a Marxist Utopia.


20 posted on 12/16/2011 5:59:20 AM PST by dools0007world
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