Thread: Iraq News

Originally Posted by Texpat

Mr Gates said the US military presence would undergo a "significant change of mission" next June when troops are due to withdraw from Iraq's urban areas.

Seems to be some disagreement here on interpretation re "withdrawal".

"Some American troops will remain in Iraqi cities after a June 30 deadline for combat soldiers to leave urban areas, the top U.S. commander said Saturday."

US troops to stay in Iraqi cities after June - Yahoo! News

"combat soldiers"?
Are they inventing new terms again to twist perceptions?

Above all, is a "stable democracy" something the Iraqis want?

I very much doubt it...

Originally Posted by spiff

Above all, is a "stable democracy" something the Iraqis want?

As in Thailand, would depend on which Iraqis one asked.

^^ despite the source, a good question.

Time will tell. Iraq has determined that they want coalition (not US) forces out.
They're the governing rule.

Be careful what you wish for.

Some Americans (and posters here) think that a Shiite government is a "victory" for the Americans. It isn't. It's definitely a victory for Iran, IMO.

Here's a new poll.

Poll Finds Support for Obama's War Views

Less Pessimism on Iraq, But 70% Back Pullout

By Michael A. Fletcher and Jon Cohen
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, December 16, 2008; Page A01

Americans are more upbeat about U.S. prospects in Iraq than at any time in the past five years, but nearly two-thirds continue to believe the war is not worth fighting and 70 percent say President-elect Barack Obama should fulfill his campaign promise to withdraw U.S. forces from the country within 16 months, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Link & Entire: washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines

It's all been decided. And Obama had almost nothing to do with it.

^ that's good news , ain't it ?

Obama having nothing to do with Iraq

Yup.

But it won't stop him from putting that feather in his hat -- despite being against it at every turn; even though he's the Messiah and has prompted legions of giddy, love-struck reporters to write syrupy tales of his prowess and successful administration (yeah, I know, he's not in office yet)

He's a politician. It will somehow be his. Reach Around's working out the details.

Originally Posted by Texpat

It's all been decided. And Obama had almost nothing to do with it.

Correct.

The failure in Iraq has been decided.

And Obama did not have anything to do with it.

Originally Posted by Texpat

But it won't stop him from putting that feather in his hat -- despite being against it at every turn

A bit off-topic here, but this is not correct:

Originally Posted by March'07

...But a review of Obama's record during his 26 months in Congress reveals that he has taken a more nuanced and cautious position on the war than the full-bore opposition.
Campaigning for the Illinois Senate seat in 2003 and 2004, Obama scolded Bush for invading Iraq and vowed he would "unequivocally" vote against an additional $87 billion to pay for it. Yet since taking office in January 2005, he has voted for four separate war appropriations, totaling more than $300 billion.
Last June, Obama voted no to Senator John F. Kerry's proposal to remove most combat troops from Iraq by July 2007, warning that an "arbitrary deadline" could "compound" the Bush administration's mistake. And last week, he voted for a Republican-sponsored resolution that stated the Senate would not cut off funding for troops in Iraq.
Though liberals want Congress to stop funding the war in order to end it, Obama has indicated that he will vote for the latest $95.5 billion Iraq appropriation when it comes before the Senate this spring. ...

Originally Posted by Texpat

It's all been decided. And Obama had almost nothing to do with it.

yes, the GWB administration foolishly made all the wrong decisions....all the way through---from the ill conceived invasion to the bungled occupation.

obama was elected by the american people in part because he promised to withdraw the troops and attempt to extract the country from this fiasco ...and on top of that, recently the iraqis demanded the US leave.

history will remember this as a bush/cheney war....and that obama had almost nothing to do with it...except guiding the country out of it.

BAGHDAD — In new Iraq, many children do not go to school or play in the streets but rather hid in corners to take drugs or even worse sell them.

Ahmed, 12, is one of them.

"Smoking marijuana makes me happy even being orphan," the child, who has lost his parents to the bloody violence, told IslamOnline.net.

"I like to feel the sensation that, for a period of time, can help me forget all the problems I have," said Ahmed, not his real name.

"I do it as much as I want, until I feel safe again just like I used to feel before my parents were killed."

Experts say many children, especially orphans, have fallen prey to drugs over the past few years.

"Prior to the 2003 US-led invasion, drug addiction, mainly among children, was practically non-existent," said Ameer Mohammad Bayat, a psychologist working with child addicts.

He notes that in many cases children turn to drugs to lessen the pain and sufferings inflicted by the war.

"Years of violence have driven those innocent to drugs."

Other children, who suddenly found themselves the breadwinners of their families, also find their way to drug addiction on the streets, Bayat added.

UNICEF reports have warned that drug addiction is becoming more of a phenomenon amongst Iraqi children.

There has been a 30 percent increase in addiction among children since 2005, according to specialists.

Since last year alone, the number of child addicts jumped by nearly 10 percent, they estimate.

Dealers

The problem goes far beyond addiction, with many children being trapped in a thriving drugs trade in new Iraq.

"There is a huge market for drugs in Iraq where children are the main columns inside the drug dealing gangs," Yehia Khalil, who works for a local NGO tackling the issue in Baghdad, told IOL.

He said gangs usually target children who lost a beloved one or those working on the streets.

"The dealers offer job and relief, easily bringing drug dependence among those innocent kids."

It is not uncommon to see children selling drugs in some districts of the capital as well as in some poor neighborhoods in southern provinces.

Iraq's Children Drug Addicts, Dealers :: www.uruknet.info :: informazione dall'Iraq occupato :: news from occupied Iraq :: - it

Originally Posted by raycarey

yes, the GWB administration foolishly made all the wrong decisions....all the way through---from the ill conceived invasion to the bungled occupation.

obama was elected by the american people in part because he promised to withdraw the troops and attempt to extract the country from this fiasco ...and on top of that, recently the iraqis demanded the US leave.

history will remember this as a bush/cheney war....and that obama had almost nothing to do with it...except guiding the country out of it.

Applause... it's not me who writed the post, but some ghost haunting my house. Naughty ghost

Is this the thread that talks about some supposed WAR going on in Iraq?

Seems awfully quite -- no posts since Christmas.

Geeze. Must be a pretty quite WAR, huh?

Anyway:

BBC
Feb 1, 2009

US President Barack Obama has congratulated Iraqis for holding a largely peaceful vote for provincial councils across the country.

He called the elections "an important step forward" for Iraqi self-determination. PM Nouri Maliki hailed them as "a victory for all the Iraqis".

There was a strong turn-out in Sunni areas, which boycotted the last polls.

The first nationwide vote in four years is seen as a test of stability before a general election due later this year.

"I congratulate the people of Iraq on holding significant provincial elections today," Mr Obama said in a statement.

"This important step forward should continue the process of Iraqis taking responsibility for their future."

Mr Obama urged the newly elected councils to "get seated, select new governors, and begin work on behalf of the Iraqi people who elected them".

Earlier, Mr Maliki said this was "a day of happiness for all the Iraqi people and for all those who love Iraq".

Tight security

The BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says that while Iraq is not yet at peace, the election is a promising sign that it is on the way there.

Thousands of soldiers and police were deployed around polling stations.

The elections were held in 14 of the country's 18 provinces, with more than 14,000 candidates competing for just 440 seats.

There was no voting in the three provinces of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of the north and the ballot was postponed in oil-rich Kirkuk province.

Iraq's provincial councils are responsible for nominating the governors who lead the administration and oversee finance and reconstruction projects.

While the recent level of violence around Iraq is significantly lower than in past years, a major security operation took place across the country.

Iraq's international borders were shut, traffic bans were put in place across Baghdad and major cities, and curfews introduced.

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Obama praises peaceful Iraq polls

***
Looks like the ongoing WAR is really fouling things up there...

Maybe we can stop calling it a war now that the Messiah has taken over. Everyone loves the Messiah.

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

George W. Bush didn't make her do it...

Confes?

No, seriosly. If this is true, she takes the gold on this one

She looks sweet. She could be somebody's mother. She needs a hug.

Where's Panda?

I don't like hugging sweet grannies with lumps of C-4 packed around her meaty hips.

´^ Sexbomb ?

err....how many threads are there on iraq?....and because i haven't posted on this particular thread in a few weeks that somehow indicates something to you? get a grip, fester......or rather loosen the grip on that bottle of chang...and btw, what did the US 'win' in iraq?

Originally Posted by Texpat

Are you shagging the lads again Reach Around? Haven't had time to keep up with the news? OK, I understand.

Was there something for the US to win in Iraq? Didn't know it was a carnival. Perhaps Barry the Show Man will let us know.

That's what you've been waiting for, isn't it?

too funny....and so much for 'respecting the presidency', eh?





c'mon fester, quit ducking the question .....what did the US 'win' in iraq?

The presidency -- Good to see you're finally quoting me correctly, Reach Around. And he is quite a showman, isn't he?

That's a start.