American combat troops almost all gone from Iraq
Mosul, Iraq (CNN) — The last U.S. brigade combat team in Iraq has left the country, a move that helps U.S. President Barack Obama reach his goal of 50,000 troops in the country by September 1.
Their departure leaves about 56,000 U.S. troops in the country, according to the U.S. military.
Note the discrepancy between my headline and the lede paragraph: the story doesn’t actually say that combat troops are almost all gone. It says the last brigade combat team has left.
Later:
Their departure comes more than seven years after U.S. combat forces entered, though their departure does not signify the end of all U.S. combat forces in the country.
I’m not honestly sure what a “brigade combat team” is (although I can guess) or whether other types of combat units might still be in Iraq. I’m betting there are, which means my first impression – the one in my headline, and the one the story gave me – is wrong.
Not that that means anything. Thanks, all you soldiers who served over there. Thanks, all you soldiers who still are. And good luck, Iraq. May the sands of fate not gather in your underwear. Or whatever the appropriate good wish is.
Via Memeorandum.
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You’ve touched on what bothers me. The way they trumpet “all the combat teams are withdrawing!” while at the same time paranthetically (except 50K or so “garrison” soldiers but they don’t count).
How must it feel to be one of the ones left behind? If their eyes are open, they know full well that their service is being used for political expediency. Those left behind are potential sacrifices, in the name of politics.
Perhaps I’m overly dramatic. My mindset is very black and white: if the whole country cannot be committed to the war: Congress, President, and the civilians as a society/culture, then it is not okay to place a single soldier in harms way.
I think you’re being a little overly dramatic. There’s still work to do there. Plus, I think a regular military presence in the Gulf would be a very good thing. If we don’t get anything else out of this, that would be worth it.
good point, re regular military presence. It’s easy to forget we’ve done that all over the world since WWII, and done some good for it. I get these “saigon evacuation” blinders, b/c I take military issues personally. Thx for checking my drama.
ha
cheers