US Troops Are Still Needed In Iraq -- A Commentary

U.S. Army soldiers and civilians cross one of the courtyards within the Babylon ruins during a tour, July 18, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Debralee P. Crankshaw

From The Guardian:

The US withdrawal from Iraq in June has failed to live up to expectations, with devastating consequences for the Iraqi people.

It was hailed as National Sovereignty Day – a day when Iraq was being handed back to Iraqis. But the US withdrawal from Iraqi towns and cities on 30 June has failed to live up to its expectations, and with devastating consequences for the Iraqi people.

An escalation of attacks since that day, including a multitude of near-simultaneous attacks on Wednesday that killed at least 95 people and injured more than 560, suggest the Iraqi security forces are not yet able to combat the insurgent and terrorist threat independent of US supervision.

Read more ....

My Comment: The Guardian commentator is right. We at War News Updates have also been saying (for the past year) that any American withdrawal from Iraq was premature.

But (of course) no one wants to listen.

To be effective in keeping the peace the U.S. and Iraqi Governments must realize that an American presence must stay for the next 5 - 10 years. That a heavy contingent of U.S. forces .... present levels being acceptable .... will need to stay and show their support to the Iraqi Government and Iraqi military. That Big Brother will always be hanging around.

But while I am saying this .... I know that it is not going to happen. President Obama wants all U.S. forces out ASAP. Major elements of the Iraqi Government want U.S. forces out ASAP. Most of the Arab countries in the region want U.S. forces out. So U.S. forces are going to leave.

The escalating war in Afghanistan and $2 trillion dollar deficits has changed the dynamics of U.S. forces in Iraq and are involvement in that country. More importantly .... the American people now want us to leave Iraq to the Iraqis .... with a good riddance and best wishes.

I can only hope and pray that the whole place does not blow up 2-3 years down the road.