Evening Buzz: New Iraq Exit Plan
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/02/25/obama.iraq/art.iraq.afp.gi.jpg caption="U.S. soldiers stand guard outside a mosque during a prisoner release Sunday in Baghdad, Iraq."]
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Pres. Obama spoke with Congressional leaders tonight about his new plan for U.S. combat troops in Iraq. He'll unveil the entire strategy tomorrow when he visits Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. But we know some of the details already.
According to Congressional officials the new that plan calls for all U.S. combat troops to be out of Iraq within 19 months. That would be August 2010. That falls short of Mr. Obama's campaign promise of a withdrawal in 16 months.
The officials said at the White House meeting tonight, Obama also revealed to lawmakers that after combat troops are out he plans to keep a range of 35,000 to 50,000 support troops on the ground in Iraq.
CNN's Ed Henry will have the breaking details for you tonight. Then we'll dig deeper with CNN's Baghdad correspondent Michael Ware and CNN Senior Political Analyst David Gergen.
What do you think of Pres. Obama's plan? We'd love to hear from you.
Join us for this story and more at 10pm.
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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I support President Obama, however, I was hoping he would find a way to be out of Iraq sooner. He did speak of Afghanistan during his campaign and so I'm not surprised we are going to up our troops there. If Bush would have just gone after Al queda there in the first place, we might be all done with this mess. If the first Bush would have had us stayed there when they were greatful for our help against Russia, we might have more friends in the middle east...but we just left.
President Obama's Plan is a Good one. He has talk with the Commanders on the Ground as he said he would do. He gave them a mission and They together came to the Best Decision that the troops can be out by 19 months. The President, his cabinet and the Commanders stated the objective is to have 35,000 to 50,000 Soldiers stay on In Iraq to Complete the Final Mission of Assisting Iraq in training, building and restoring their Country, That We Invaded Under False Pretenses. America, This Situation and the handling of getting our Soldiers out of Iraq is not going to please everyone. But we should stop with the bickering, the arguing, fussing and complaining about who's Way is the Way. What we do know is Our Soldiers Need to Come Home and We Need To Be on One Accord in getting them Home. I think and Feel that President Obama is doing what is Best for Our Country and what is best For Our Soldiers. I Beg of you please, America Lets Work together toward this Goal, and that is getting our Soldiers out of Iraq as quickly and Safely as possible. This is Exactly What the President's Goal is. Hoo Ah!
I support President Obama and his plan to remove troops from Iraq. It may take a few months longer than he hoped but someone is finally trying to end the nightmare. Obama has stood by his word. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!
That is a wise decision
Hi Maureen, I'am not sold on the plan. How long have we been in Iraq. This has become a political nightmare. The games people play with lives on the line is beyond belief. I voted for Mr.Obama. My number one reason for the vote was he said he would get out of Iraq, now he's playing politics, and adding more troops to Afganistan. I understand pulling out in a short time frame could cause some problems, but, I think its worth it. I'am a Viet Nam veteran. 57 thousand lives lost for nothing. I'am sorry, but I say bring them all home. If some one wants to fight us I'am sure most american's would line up to do whatever it takes. I'am tired of listing to the verbal diarrhea coming out of washington. War is hell. This is not war. By the way, where is Bin laden?? Thanks for reading, Art
Currently Iraq has 140,000 troops. down to say 40,000 ( 35-50) and Afghanistan 30,000 perhaps max 60,000. So that ends up with 100,000 versus 170,000 =40% reduction. looks based on Ali velshi's commentary like a $240 trillion saving to me and easily funds the $65m for Medicare annually ( 650trillion over 10years) you do dramatise the numbers and not the facts carefully enough.
You also say the Budget is $3.6 Trillion as though this is some kind of diasaster, but its the same as 2009 budget. The only difference as you rightly point out is where its going to be spent. I.e to Democratic ideology or Republican ideology, but thats a no brainer, its obvious and what most of us Americans voted for!
Hey come on guys, where was this deficit headed to if Mccain had won.. same way at least in the same time frame Obama outlines.
Sorry but when 2% of the nation has 90% of the wealth anywhere in the world I say tax the rich. Take a poll on that, the answer is clear its OK for at least 60% of the population.
Regards,
Hodgson.
It is time for our troops to come home. They train and expect to be put in harms way to accomplish an objective but what is the objective in iraq?
Will the troops from Iraq be moved to Afghanistan? If so, how will spending less on defense in 2009-10 help fight Al Queda and the Taliban in that region?
19 months sound better than 100 years to me!!!!
Why is everybody pointing the finger at Obama about spending for trying to set the country straight, when they didn't complain "enough" about Bush taking us into debt for an illegitimate war?
Does anybody know where the republican found their ideas about getting us out of debt. It seem for the past 8 years they had lost these ideas they are only now offering. They wrecked the country in 8 years and now they are trying to finish their plan to totally destroy USA by stalling and criticizing everything the president is trying at least he his trying...they played possum for 8 years.
If the U.S. hadn't have helped Afghanastan defeat the Russians none of this would have been necessary in the first place. Also, If you think moving soldiers from Iraq to Afghanastan is going to save money, think again. I'm like most people, I'd like to see all our soldiers come home, but as long as we're dependent on oil, I don't see it happening, no matter who the President is at the time. Sad but true.
my name is tim from waterford mich.i always was for the war in iraq.and pulling out most troops by 2010 will put maney in harms way more money lost for nothing.we owe it to the iraqi people to stay.and just maybe my children wont have to go in when they are older.plus i seek to go into the army and will for free i love my country and will always put her first.thanx and god bless the usa.
Our troops are tired and depleted. If August 2010 is the best he can do, since he has to consider both party's ideals, then that's fine by me. I want our troops to come home as soon as possible, just as the next person does, but we might just have to be patient for a bit. It'll happen. Let the man do his job. He has a lot of issues on his plate, and he's only been in office for over a month. At least he wants the troops to come home. Look at Bush and what he was doing. I appreciate Obama's efforts.
At least we have a plan...16 months or 19 months, at least we know where we are headed.
I am glad that President Obama is being cautious about leaving Iraq, and taking advice from the generals on the ground. I didn't believe in the war when Bush began it,and I see Obama focusing on Afghanastan as a hopeful sign,that there will be a change in direction. Hopefully alot of money will be saved by ending the Iraq war!
I feel our soldiers could better be used guarding our bourders,isn't thier job to protect America?
If people want to justify obamas backpedaling then why even ask the question? I was a huge obama supporter but he has been more agressive with military action in one month than bush in the last year.
What they need to do is send all of the soldiers back as soon as possible. They are only human targets over there the best thing to do is to just bring every single solider home back home from Iraq.
my son goes into the marines in june. if ohbama does nothing else he has saved my son from war, god bless him. i knew when my son decided on joining the marines 3 years ago. i knew that bush would be gone and a man would finally be president instead of a mouse. i voted for the first time for ohbama, want to vote for clinton, but things didnt work that way. oh every body talks about how much money he is spending, at least he is honest about it unlike bush jr. every body needs to relaxe it will get soooooooooooooo much better. he knows what he is doing let him do it.
I'm delighted there is finally a date set for withdrawal. They are sure leaving a lot behind though....how long do those troops have to stay? Even if it is 3 months longer than he said on the campaign its closer than I had thought it would be. So I am happy with it.
About time, we still haven't received a fully legitimate reason to have ground involvement in Iraq.
Only a civilian would suggest that you can remove "combat troops" all troops are trained in combat first. The job you perform is secondary to combat. In essence our commander in chief will still leave 50,000 "combat troops" in the middle east.
President Obama has a plan. That is fine. He is listening to those we pay for military expertise. If they are saying 19 months and leave some non-combat troops in, that is fine. It would be insane to think that you can just rip everyone out without some support.
I hear that Pres. Obama plans to leave Michael Dukakis behind in a tank, to keep the peace.
I don't know, keeping support troops isn't really bringing them all home. Our soldiers, (Canadian) started in Afghanistan on a peace keeping mission. At least that's how it was "sold" to us. Now it's a full fledged war. I realize they are fighting in both countries to bring peace, but how can fighting bring about peace.
I want all troops out of the Middle East asap!
It was a mistake to go into Iraq; no doubt about it. However, leaving now will likely cause us to have to return within 10 years to an even larger problem. I think its a mistake. Mistake going in, mistake getting out too soon. Look at Afganistan after the Russian conflict, we are dealing with that mess now.