With all of the hullabaloo surrounding the removal of the last "combat" troops I am left wondering how many people actually know that we still have troops in Iraq. Listening to the media and the government perspective that I see and hear in mainstream, I am innundated with the message about the troops coming home. Which, don't get me wrong, is great to hear. But, is that actually what was promised by this administration?
As President Obama campaigned in 2008, one of his biggest promises would be the end of the Iraq War. How can you celebrate the end to a war when the United States still has around 50,000 troops in Iraq with new "peace-keeping" forces arriving throughout the month? How can someone also call counterterrorism actions as non-combat?
At the same time the U.S. is drawing down troops in Iraq, we continue to send more troops into Afghanistan. I feel like the current administration is playing a shell game with us. Distract the populus with a bit of good news in one place to blind us to what is happening elsewhere. Not only that but there are still problems in Iraq. The Iraqis are worried about increasing attacks from al-Qaeda as the U.S. withdraws. The government is also not quite the picture of stability at the moment. Is the U.S. government kicking out an elementary school aged democracy into the world to fend for itself? It will not last in my opinion.
Enough ranting for today. Here are a couple of links to check out and read for more info. Could be current event worthy!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10839342
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/19/AR2010081905642.html
(Good Article)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/22/us-soldier-killed-attack-iraq
Let me know what you think in the comments section!
