Combat mission in Iraq over: what it comes down to at the end of the day

[Skybird]

The last combat brigade has left two weesk early, but not before today the combat mission officially has ended.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11135500

Fair, balanced. In general, I agree with it .

[SteamWake]

Yes even the headline is 'balanced'

[bradclark1]

There's going to be a civil war. The only question is when.

[AVGWarhawk]

The country is still in turmoil. The problems are long from over.

[SteamWake]

Just keep in mind tonight when Obama declares sucess that every single democrat railed against Bushs policys and to a man voted against the surge.

Even Barry himself sternly lectured that the policys would have little to no impact.

"This war is lost" [Harry Reid]

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Yes even the headline is 'balanced'

Yes, fair and balanced. Fair in that the article is calm in tone, and balanced in that it reflects the key thoughts about Iraq objectively, imo.

Regarding Obama, Iraq is not what he can be held responsible for. The sin of starting the war, is Bush's, not Obama's. The war as planned by the neocons and defined in its objectives - politically by Wolfowitz et. al. and economically-opportunistically by Halliburton's fan-gang - has failed. The preparation and projections were catastrophically incompetent. Obama took the wise decision to leave behind a lost war that he was handed over by Bush.

Howevewr, I think 50,000 troops remain there for the coming years, and after that a further reduced military presence by the US still will be there for an undefined future to come.

[SteamWake]

"The sin of starting a war"

If I recall the democrats were all for at the time.

"I voted for this war before I voted against it" John Kerry

Just keep in mind tonight when Obama declares sucess that every single democrat railed against Bushs policys and to a man voted against the surge.

Even Barry himself sternly lectured that the policys would have little to no impact.

The policies didn't have much impact, the surge just gave a short respite from the inevitable.

"This war is lost"

It was lost many years ago.

"I voted for this war before I voted against it" John Kerry

You "fiscal conservatives" crack me up , thats when he voted for the war but changed his vote when the bill was amended so that the US taxpayer would get saddled with all the costs.
You should be applauding that stand but instead you don't even understand it beyond the meaningless soundbite you have been fed by the "liberal" media

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

"The sin of starting a war"

If I recall the democrats were all for at the time.

"I voted for this war before I voted against it" John Kerry

So what? It still was stupid. the Neocons developed the the idea, the house allowed itself to get talked into it, everybody went mad, and the media turned hysteric. It was a stupid decision to have that war nevertheless. And outside America, most people saw that it was stuoid from the beginning on. And Bush'S government was responsible for the way it was handled: incompetently, dilletantic, and without having a clue on what to do next and what to expect inside Iraq and after the field battle was over.

[Bilge_Rat]

Originally Posted by Skybird

So what? It still was stupid. the Neocons developed the the idea, the house allowed itself to get talked into it, everybody went mad, and the media turned hysteric. It was a stupid decision to have that war nevertheless. And outside America, most people saw that it was stuoid from the beginning on. And Bush'S government was responsible for the way it was handled: incompetently, dilletantic, and without having a clue on what to do next and what to expect inside Iraq and after the field battle was over.

Skybird, I am not sure if I see your "fair and balanced" viewpoint on display here.

The iraq war was a mistake, just like the invasion of Russia by Germany in 1941 was a mistake. Governments make mistakes, the US governemnt was not the first and certainly will not be the last.