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BY STEVEN HSIEH
 
 
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President Obama announced on Friday the withdrawal of all U.S. military forces from Iraq by the end of the year.  The withdrawal fulfills an Obama campaign promise – and upholds the deadline set by the Bush administration in 2008.


“After nearly nine years, America’s war in Iraq will be over.  The last American soldiers will cross the border out of Iraq with their heads held high.” (The Washington Post)


But some media are reporting – the president might’ve left a few important details out.

Officials say the Iraqi Prime Minister actually requested for a continued American troop presence in Iraq to train security forces --

But the New York Times Reports -- his government would not grant immunity from prosecution for U.S. forces.  For the Obama administration, that was the deal breaker.

Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer tells Fox News – the result of these negotiations marks a diplomatic failure for Obama.


“We have to think about our interests.  And the reason the Pentagon wanted to maintain the force, say between 20,000 more, was because they wanted to maintain a strategic relationship with Iraq in the heart of Mesopotamia, which would’ve been extremely important, the same way we retained forces in Korea, Germany and Japan … This is a big, big failure.”


The New York Times also reports – some top military officials take the same view.

CBS spoke with retired U.S. General James “Spider” Marks – who says the Iraqi military just isn’t prepared for the challenges ahead.


“The biggest concern is the border between Iraq and Iran is as poor as it can be.  [The] training of the Iraqi forces by the U.S, that would be a focus that would get attention.  The concern I have over all, is that in order to grow a military, you have to start with a non-commissioned officer.  That takes 8 to 9 years, and the Iraqis just are not there yet.”
 

But the Washington Post’s E.J. Dionne says Obama made the right decision, noting that the U.S. can help a lot more with its hands, rather than guns.


“...the United States should want to do what it can to preserve the progress Iraqis have made toward building a more democratic nation. The best U.S. role is assisting in institution-building, not in maintaining an indefinite U.S. troop presence.”


So what does the announcement mean politically?  Well, Obama’s GOP rivals made their stances clear.


Statement from Romney: “President Obama’s astonishing failure to secure an orderly transition in Iraq has unnecessarily put at risk the victories that were won through the blood and sacrifice of thousands of American men and women." (Fox News)

Statement from Perry: “…there’s little evidence [this] decision is based on advice from military commanders.” (Fox News)

Cain: “I would not have announced this big draw down until the enemy slowed down.” (MSNBC)

And CNN’s Jessica Yellin says the president emphasized his announcement as a fulfilled promise and welcomes the criticism.

“I’d characterize their general position on this as ‘bring it on.’ … They think that foreign policy is a strength for the president.” (CNN)


Finally – NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski reports – just because troops are leaving Iraq – that doesn’t mean they’re coming home.


“The Pentagon’s already looking at training Iraqis in some other countries in the region, and even talking about putting a small number of troops back in Iraq for a small training mission.  And there’s also concern that the US. may be forced to deploy additional troops somewhere else in the region to keep Iran in check.”
 
Transcript by Newsy.
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Immunity Pushed Iraq Decision

October 22, 2011
(3:31)
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President Obama announced on Friday the withdrawal of all U.S. military forces from Iraq by the end of the year.
   
Sources:The Washington PostThe New York TimesFox NewsCBSMSNBCCNNNBC
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