Obama announces end to war in Iraq

Starbuck · 10-21-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SelfMadeMan

I'll believe it when it actually happens... just sayin, until then, talk is cheap and we are in an election era.

I'm with you SMM, 100%, I'll believe it when I see it! And I'm not even from the "Show Me" state. I do hope our troops get to come home and not merely recycled through Afghanistan.

iamkeri1 · 10-21-2011, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbuck

I'm with you SMM, 100%, I'll believe it when I see it! And I'm not even from the "Show Me" state. I do hope our troops get to come home and not merely recycled through Afghanistan.

Yesterday, when Gaddafi was killed, the talking heads went on and on about the low cost and low loss (for us) of the US and Nato approach to the Lybian insurrection and what other countries it would be effective with. It gave me a chill. Today the announcement about pulling the troops out of Iraq. Again a chill. Who would be next? Since we seem to be addicted to war, where would these troops be sent next? Iran is my bet. though I deeply deeply hope I am wrong.

Smooches,
Keri

Mtn · 10-21-2011, 11:44 PM

A status of forces agreement is normal when an "occupying force" starts to downsize. When I was stationed in Frankfurt in the early 80's we were still functioning under a SOFA from WW2. The current government of Iraq is made up of a variety of factions, even more complicted than our democrats vs republicans and add other parties, and most of them are armed. Our talking heads can't agree on anything, so no surprise that their's can't either. I believe that if our troops stayed they needed that protection. Mostly I am happy that OUR troops will be home for the holidays. I doubt there is anything that Obama can do at this point to get him reelected, because of the state of the economy, but yayyyy to the end of the American war in Iraq.

AtLast · 10-22-2011, 02:31 AM

What keeps going through my mind about this is how we have an entire generation of young military that have been to hell and back again on deployments to Iraq- and will we treat them well upon their return? I am happy to see us leave Iraq but feel like most people only look at this single point. many that are leaving Iraq will go to Afghanistan as well. We have put hundreds of thousands of our troops through 10 years of war and I wonder what their lives will be like when they all finally return (those that will come back).

Active military in the US makes up less than 4% of the population and the remaining 96% takes little interest in the emotional toil these troops have gone through along with their families and friends. Unemployment rates are high for those ending their military enlistment and thousands are not receiving the medical and mental health care they need when returning home. They walk in a country that unless there are other military friends and relatives they know, does not even think about the sacrifices they have made. Many will end up divorced due to the number of deployments they have served and families broken into pieces with young kids never knowing the parent that has been away for several years with brief periods inbetween deployments. The prolonged economic stress for spouses left at home are immense along with all of the other stresses.

I am happy we are getting out of Iraq, you bet, but I hope the general population pays attention to all of what our military goes through while serving during wartime.

10-21-2011, 11:44 PM	#3
Mtn Member How Do You Identify?: Stone butch, daddy type Relationship Status: sylvie calls me her studmuffin Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: OR Posts: 691 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,005 Thanked 3,834 Times in 617 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	A status of forces agreement is normal when an "occupying force" starts to downsize. When I was stationed in Frankfurt in the early 80's we were still functioning under a SOFA from WW2. The current government of Iraq is made up of a variety of factions, even more complicted than our democrats vs republicans and add other parties, and most of them are armed. Our talking heads can't agree on anything, so no surprise that their's can't either. I believe that if our troops stayed they needed that protection. Mostly I am happy that OUR troops will be home for the holidays. I doubt there is anything that Obama can do at this point to get him reelected, because of the state of the economy, but yayyyy to the end of the American war in Iraq. __________________ If you don't sleep in my bed, or sign my paycheck, your opinion probably does not matter to me...

10-22-2011, 02:31 AM	#4
AtLast Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Woman Preferred Pronoun?: HER - SHE Relationship Status: Relating Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CA & AZ I'm a Snowbird Posts: 5,408 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,826 Thanked 10,828 Times in 3,199 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	What keeps going through my mind about this is how we have an entire generation of young military that have been to hell and back again on deployments to Iraq- and will we treat them well upon their return? I am happy to see us leave Iraq but feel like most people only look at this single point. many that are leaving Iraq will go to Afghanistan as well. We have put hundreds of thousands of our troops through 10 years of war and I wonder what their lives will be like when they all finally return (those that will come back). Active military in the US makes up less than 4% of the population and the remaining 96% takes little interest in the emotional toil these troops have gone through along with their families and friends. Unemployment rates are high for those ending their military enlistment and thousands are not receiving the medical and mental health care they need when returning home. They walk in a country that unless there are other military friends and relatives they know, does not even think about the sacrifices they have made. Many will end up divorced due to the number of deployments they have served and families broken into pieces with young kids never knowing the parent that has been away for several years with brief periods inbetween deployments. The prolonged economic stress for spouses left at home are immense along with all of the other stresses. I am happy we are getting out of Iraq, you bet, but I hope the general population pays attention to all of what our military goes through while serving during wartime.