Did you expect the war to end sooner?

[workingclasshero]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

I thought Obama as a candidate was pretty clear how long it would take to get out of Iraq. The ideal timeline was 11 months and reality pushed it back to 16. Everything seems to be on track.

He said over and over "We're going to be as careful getting out as we were careless getting in." I suspect a lot of people just thought he'd cancel everything in Iraq the day he took office, but he never said he would. That would have been wreckless.

bulefly, we agree on something

obama has always been against artificial timelines

he has been informed from DoD that it will take AT LEAST 2 years to remove all the equipment from theater,,that's why he has been very carfeul on his wording of things,,,as he said he will remove the "combat troops" by next Oct,, doesnt mean the support troops, or the semi-combat troops to protect them.

here is a quote from 2004 from obama

"I've never said that troops should be withdrawn. What I've said is, is that we've got to make sure that we secure and execute the rebuilding and reconstruction process effectively and properly, and I don't think we should have an artificial deadline when to do that."

Senator Barack Obama (Democrat, Illinois)
During an interview on "Chicago Tonight" with Elizabeth Brackett
April 5, 2004

[momonkey]

Originally Posted by artsyguy

I thought it was called "the war on terror"?????????

Nope, "overseas contingency operations".

It was caused by the "man-made disaster" on 9/11.

[AeroGuyDC]

Originally Posted by Cougar31

According to W the war ended while ago...remember "Mission Accomplished"

"Mission Accomplished" was in reference to end of major combat operations, not the end of the war.

Only the weak, gullible, and intellectually shallow hang onto anything other than this fact.

[djacques]

Originally Posted by AeroGuyDC

Only the weak, gullible, and intellectually shallow hang onto anything other than this fact.

Only the weak, gullible, and intellectually shallow imagine that the "mission" was anything other than turning Iraq into a giant cash machine for Bush and Cheney's rich friends, and appeasing Israel into the bargain. That mission was, indeed, accomplished.