One of President Obama’s campaign promises was a withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. After he was elected, he quickly set about a plan for getting out of Iraq. Soon a program was put together, and also the White House has kept it on schedule. All but 50,000 troops can be removed from Iraq by the end of August, 2010. All American military can be gone by the end of 2011.
Iraq to pass back to Iraqis
According to The Guardian, the President announced that military authority could be handed over to Iraqi authorities by the end of August. The announcement was made as the President spoke before the Disabled American Veterans conference in Atlanta. He highlighted that he had promised a withdrawal in his campaign platform. About 90,000 troops have already been withdrawn from Iraq since he took office. Following the August 31 deadline, after which all authority of military operations will transfer to Iraqi officials, 50,000 American military will remain initially as an advisory body. Combat operations by American troops will cease at that time.
Focus on Afghanistan
The war in Iraq could be dissipating, but Afghanistan continues to be a hotspot. Obama swore he won’t stand for the Taliban or Al Qaeda returning to power, according to CNN. There has been scandal and outrage over the war in Afghanistan lately. The Rolling Stone Stanly McChrystal interview led General Stanley McChrystal being fired, and the Wikileaks documents release of 90,000 pages of Afghan war documents has created a great deal of outrage.
The end of the beginning or the beginning of the end
The timetable for withdrawal of American troops from Iraq is carrying on as prepared. The conflict in Afghanistan is far from over. Currently, more troops are in Afghanistan than Iraq, and some believe the war in Afghanistan may not winnable. No end is at the moment in sight to the Afghan conflict.
Find more information on this subject
guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/02/barack-obama-us-iraq-combat
cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/08/02/obama.iraq.drawdown/index.html?hpt=T1
