The Iraq War Part II

Obama has decided to put an end to combat operations in Iraq August 31st 2010. Obama is expected to deliver a speech Friday at Camp Lejeune, N.C, where he will order an immediate draw down of the 142,000 Marines and Army personnel in Iraq. Obama told congress there will be between 35,000 and 50,000 troops left in Iraq to assist with training, advising and engaging in limited counter-terrorist operations.

The president told congress troops that remain in Iraq after Aug. 31, 2010, will carry out new missions and will be trained and organized in a way that de-emphasizes combat-readiness and intensifies the focus on these three missions:

* Train, equip and advise Iraqi security forces
* Support civilian operations in Iraq aimed at reconstruction,redevelopment
and political reconciliation
* Conduct targeted counter-terrorism missions.

The president told congress his plan, which ends combat operations 19 months after he was sworn in as president, represented the consensus advice he received from Defense Secretary Robert Gates; the Joints Chiefs of Staff; Army Gen. Ray Ordierno, the top military commander in Iraq, and Gen. David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command.

If Gen. Petraeus told Obama the Iraqis are ready to stand on their own then I have to believe they are. There is no greater patriot or warrior than Gen Petraeus. He has lead this war for several years now and has poured his life into the war since it began. I have to believe no one wants to see victory in Iraq more than Gen Petraeus. Part of me is very skeptical though, the Democrats in congress have been saying what a blunder this war was and that it was un-winnable. If the Iraqis stand on their own feet and democracy prospers, the defeatist Democrats look like unpatriotic fools. I am just afraid those who insisted Bush and this war were a failure will do anything in their power to see the Iraqis fail.

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS