'Oil-seeking US unlikely to leave Iraq'

[unhappycamper]

Analysts say the US withdrawal of its combat troops from Iraq and emphasis on training and advisory roles is aimed at disguising its continued military presence there.


'Oil-seeking US unlikely to leave Iraq'
Mon Sep 6, 2010 8:36AM

US President Barack Obama in his September 1 speech formally declared an end to his country's combat operations in Iraq. Nearly 50,000 troops that are remaining in the country to advice and train Iraqi security forces are to leave by the end of 2011.

In his article "Rebranding the US Mission in Iraq: Welcome 'Advisors' and 'Assisters'," renowned journalist Eric Margolis rejected the concept of a full US withdrawal from Iraq, which has cost Washington $700 billion to date.

The article published on Huffington Post's news website pointed out that the remaining non-combat US troops would likely entail six heavy armor combat brigades backed by warplanes from US air bases in the Persian Gulf.

Meanwhile, a US brigade withdrawn from Iraq would be deployed in neighboring Kuwait and most of the rest would be transferred to Afghanistan, Margolis said, noting that nearly 85,000 US-paid mercenaries continue to operate in Iraq.

He further explained that the current security contract between Washington and Baghdad allows for the US to indefinitely retain all air rights over the country, which enables the United States to exert military pressure on regional Middle East nations.

[DrDan]

1. to this, add the largest (or close to) embassy in the world with a diplomatic staff of 5,000

we are there to stay.

That oil was too much of a tempatation to resist.

[pocoloco]

2. Wow! A truckload or two of shit dumped on the victory parade!!

[Swamp Rat]

3. What victory?

[WinkyDink]

4. "Victory"? Please define.

[unhappycamper]

5. Thanks for the unrecs!

:hi:

[mdmc]

6. ..

[spanone]

7. press tv

Press TV is a 24-hour English language global news network owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with worldwide bureaus in Beirut (Lebanon), Damascus (Syria), London (UK), Seoul (South Korea), and at the United Nations (USA).

The network's stated official vision is "to heed the voices and perspectives of the people of the world; build bridges of cultural understanding; encourage human beings of different nationalities, races and creeds to identify with one another; bring to light untold and overlooked stories of individuals who have experienced political and cultural divides firsthand."<4>

Press TV carries news, analysis, documentary, talk shows and sports news worldwide with special focus on West Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Press TV is available in most parts of the world via fourteen satellites, as well as cable and Internet. It is free-to-air for almost all of its viewers, although some cable companies include it on their platforms. Live video, audio, and FLV streaming is also available on its website.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRESS_TV

:shrug: