U.S. Ends Combat Operations In Iraq. For Real This Time.

6:40 pm EST August 18th, 2010 | National Security | 13 Comments

No flight suits, please.

The last U.S. combat troops were crossing the border into Kuwait on Thursday morning, bringing to a close the active combat phase of a 7½-year war that overthrew the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein, forever defined the presidency of George W. Bush and left more than 4,400 American service members and tens of thousands of Iraqis dead.

The final convoy of the Army’s 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Lewis, Wash., were about to enter Kuwait shortly after 1:30 a.m. (6:30 p.m. Wednesday ET), carrying the last of the 14,000 U.S. combat forces in Iraq, said NBC’s Richard Engel, who has been traveling with the brigade as it moved out this week.

Thanks to the decisions of the last administration, a lot of good people have come home but will never see their families and friends again on this plane of existence.

Topic:

Related Posts

«
»

13 Responses to “U.S. Ends Combat Operations In Iraq. For Real This Time.”

  1. Jaim says:
    August 18, 2010 at 6:55 pm

    It’s good news obviously, but the sooner Obama declares victory in Afghanistan and pulls out the quicker he’ll avoid his own personal Vietnam.

    But here’s the big picture: Republican presidents start failed wars, and Democratic presidents are left to pick up the pieces.

  2. Marco says:
    August 18, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    Safe travels home. Finally. The best to the 50k still there.

  3. isms says:
    August 18, 2010 at 7:33 pm

    Invade a country that had nothing to do with 911, fuck it up even more than it was before the invasion, help them write a “Constitution,” then leave THEM to pick up the pieces. Nice work if you can get it. What a fucking disaster.

  4. MrGreyGhost says:
    August 18, 2010 at 7:36 pm

    Gee, if only we had left that Saddam guy in charge, Iraq would certainly be in a much better place now.

  5. Ol'Froth says:
    August 18, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    There’d be a lot fewer dead US soldiers and Iraqis, that’s for sure.

  6. jr says:
    August 18, 2010 at 8:16 pm

    Wars are free. Paul Ryan voted for the Iraq war and gets to be deficit expert now

  7. Paul_D says:
    August 18, 2010 at 11:46 pm

    “Gee, if only we had left that Saddam guy in charge, Iraq would certainly be in a much better place now.”

    Uh huh, just like those other U.S. sponsored bastions of Freedom® like Nicaragua, Guatemala, Zaire, Uzbekistan, Savimbi-ruled Angola.. -your point being?

  8. fafaroo says:
    August 19, 2010 at 1:22 am

    “Gee, if only we had left that Saddam guy in charge, Iraq would certainly be in a much better place now.”

    Yeah, Saddam had to go. Any leader who tortures people has no right to… oh, wait…

  9. Dennis says:
    August 19, 2010 at 5:19 am

    “oh, wait…”.

    Another version of the fafaroovian distortion tactic from the guy who can’t go two posts without doing it.

  10. SaveFarris says:
    August 19, 2010 at 10:39 am

    General Betray-us would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way.

  11. Jaim says:
    August 19, 2010 at 10:59 am

    If Saddam was so terrible (and he was) I guess that makes Reagan and Rumsfeld in particular supporters of state terrorism, given how much cash and military aid they supplied to his regime during the 1980′s.

    You don’t get to have it both ways, wing-nuts.

  12. Frank DiSalle says:
    August 24, 2010 at 3:14 am

    How Democrats win wars : ” We won … Let’s go home. ”

    Here are three Democratic “victories” for you:

    Germany – occupied by us for over 60 years . During the Cold War , we had thousands of men there who were assigned to die , if and when the Russians chose to invade Germany . Talk about no exit plan

    Korea – occupied over 50 years , still divided , and armed with Nuclear ( yes , even Pres Carter called them ‘nucular’ ) weapons. Way to Presidents Carter and Clinton.

    Viet Nam – “We will arm you and supply you, but we have to go.” Then , “We have to go. Bye – bye.” Now we are getting ready to make a defense agreement with a totalitarian dictatorship, in exchange for – nothing. YaY ! for the Cooper – Church betrayal.

    And, finally, Iraq. Tension in the Middle East ? None that the President can see.
    Would Iraq make a useful OP? Nah. Let’s declare victory before Labor Day, so we can win November.
    Cold hearted, ruthless bastards, selling out nations and peoples to win elections. I hope they all rot in hell. You lefties will be fanning them .

  13. isms says:
    August 24, 2010 at 4:30 am

    Mission Accomplished – and then it lasts another 10 years.