namelesstavern.net

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29371588

about time this huge clusterfuck ends....

only three months off target. not bad. this guy is doing some great work

a U.S. force numbering between 35,000 to 50,000 will stay behind in non-combat roles, with the final troops not slated to leave until Dec. 31, 2011.

We'll have a hell of a lot of "non-combat" military there. They'll sure as hell be carrying weapons, and I'd bet money on there being incidents that result in combat situations. I think saying this is more about perception than action, just like Bush with his whole "Mission Accomplished" thing.

So it really wont end until 2012, and what happens if someone else gets elected? I wouldn't be surprised at all if that date keeps getting pushed back. I honestly think we will have a decades long occupation in Iraq, and they'll keep coming up with new reasons why we need to stay as time goes on.

What do you think will be the situation with Afghanistan in 2012?

I think that the remaining troops will be left to just fortify the area and prevent any post war uprisings. Sometimes presence is enough to prevent something from happening. And while things WILL happen that result in combat, I think that overall it will be avoiding a large number of potentially harmful situations that would have stemmed from them not being there. Also, I don't see us staying there much longer than the date he stated. I think enough American's are tired of this war. I think it's abundantly clear that we need our men and women back and that we need to focus on the problems within for now.

He does move swiftly, so much for saying the Republicans are not working with him, obviously we have some support here and that's good.

As far as what will happen in Afghanistan? We'll see if the battleground is moved. I hope not.

Mark my words. We will ALWAYS have troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The only thing that will bring our troops home is the complete collapse of the US Government or we elect a third party (Green or Libertarian) to enough office positions they can force a complete withdraw.

Afghanistan is getting 20k some odd more troops I think.

They have a particular shortage of combat medics in hospitals and in the field. I think I know where I will be this time next year.

Where did you expect to be a year from now? I don't get the frowning face. Isn't this what you signed up for?

I knew it was going to happen. It's not like I have to be happy about it.

A lot has happened in my life in the past 6 months. My grandmother is hospitalized and is unable to care for herself. She's probably going to end up moving in with us. My mom might have cancer, they're doing surgery to find out. A biopsy or some shit. Serious relationship with my girlfriend that's obviously going to have to endure me being gone for 6 months, and likely the deployment to boot.

wow. i am sorry to hear that harri, that is hard stuff. i can imagine you would want to be close as possible for all that.