Last US troops withdraw from Iraq

[Chris_]

The last convoy of US troops to leave Iraq has entered Kuwait, nearly nine years after the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

The final column of about 100 armoured vehicles carrying 500 soldiers crossed the southern Iraqi desert overnight.

At the peak of the operation there were 170,000 US troops and more than 500 bases in Iraq.

As the last of the armoured vehicles crossed the border, a gate was closed behind them and US and Kuwaiti soldiers gathered there to shake hands and pose for pictures.

BBC

[Bertram]

I was in fifth grade when we invaded Iraq. It's quite odd seeing a war start when your so very young, yet you have friends that serve from your class.
 Like most, I fully supported the war at the beginning, but my views changed as I grew older. Even though I might be a peace loving, bleeding-heart liberal, egghead communist, but I think, even though I disagree with the reasons we went there, and the human cost was terrible, I still think that overall, what it's lead to is good. Democracy is a pretty sweet deal. Freedom is a wonderful thing.

[Chris_]

Fifth grade.  Yeah, you're a regular Phileas Fogg.

[Minky]

I was in fifth grade when we invaded Iraq. It's quite odd seeing a war start when your so very young, yet you have friends that serve from your class.
 Like most, I fully supported the war at the beginning, but my views changed as I grew older. Even though I might be a peace loving, bleeding-heart liberal, egghead communist, but I think, even though I disagree with the reasons we went there, and the human cost was terrible, I still think that overall, what it's lead to is good. Democracy is a pretty sweet deal. Freedom is a wonderful thing.

The human cost was comparatively lower than almost any other war in the history of America, right? Please explain this terrible cost you speak of.

[Bertram]

The human cost was comparatively lower than almost any other war in the history of America, right? Please explain this terrible cost you speak of.

Being US, Civilian or Iraqi military. Lives are inherently valuable. Sure, comparatively the cost is much lower. But that doesn't mean the cost is good. Death sucks.

[Chris_]

The numbers just don't paint Iraq (and Afghanistan) as the "quagmire" Barack Obama and Ted Kennedy would have us believe.  Death is tragic, but it happens. 

[Minky]

Death does not suck when they are insurgents. The cost of this war was far higher to the insurgents than it was to Americans. At least our guys knew and expected the possibility of losing their lives. They weren't raised to sacrifice their lives for a possible chance of enjoying 40 virgins in another life.

I feel bad for the American/allied casualties in this war. Those are the only humans we lost. The other losses were neither human, nor were they a considerable loss to anyone. They were dirty, vermin that needed exterminating.

[Bertram]

Death does not suck when they are insurgents. The cost of this war was far higher to the insurgents than it was to Americans. At least our guys knew and expected the possibility of losing their lives. They weren't raised to sacrifice their lives for a possible chance of enjoying 40 virgins in another life.

I feel bad for the American/allied casualties in this war. Those are the only humans we lost. The other losses were neither humor, nor were they a considerable loss to anyone. They were dirty, vermin that needed exterminating.

What about civilians?

[Chris_]

Death does not suck when they are insurgents. The cost of this war was far higher to the insurgents than it was to Americans. At least our guys knew and expected the possibility of losing their lives. They weren't raised to sacrifice their lives for a possible chance of enjoying 40 virgins in another life.

Don't waste your time trying to argue with this kid.  He's a green little boy who believes what he is told, despite his objections to the contrary. 

[Minky]

What about civilians?

Well, what are the numbers of civilian casualties over there? Do they have the ability to keep track of that number? Or are you just listening to the number the media is telling you? We are talking about areas that didn't have electricity and running water, so were they really keeping track of the bodies being dumped in holes? Who they were? Who they were loyal to?

As was said before, it was a war and death happens. Civilian casualties over there are far less important than civilian casualties here. Perhaps an arrogant way of thinking, but nonetheless, it's true. What was the final number of our civilian casualties in this war? It started with three thousand, but it ended higher, right? We had people over there rebuilding their cities being kidnapped, tortured, and blown up too. By vermin.

Now that we're gone, what do you think will happen there? Does that young government have what it takes to sustain control? I'll also throw out there that I'd be willing to bet that the number of civilian casualties in Iraq, if that high, was mostly by the hands of the vermin insurgents and not by our men and women.

[CG6468]

Don't waste your time trying to argue with this kid.  He's a green little boy who believes what he is told, despite his objections to the contrary.

What can one expect. He admits that he's a commie.

[Chris_]

The bullshit infamous Lancet study of "a million" Iraqi civilian deaths has been disproved... it's a lie.  It just didn't happen. 

[Minky]

Sorry! I'll stop now. I just get so irritated with statements about the casualty rate over there. Comparably speaking, casualties were very low. Well, except for the vermin. We hardly put a dent in them though.

[Minky]

I find it very hard to believe that people who were shitting in dirt holes were successful at gathering a census on the deaths over there.

[Chris_]

I find it very hard to believe that people who were shitting in dirt holes were successful at gathering a census on the deaths over there.

Yup.

If Arab Muslims put as much effort into progress as they do into hating everyone around them, they would have indoor plumbing by now.

[docstew]

Being US, Civilian or Iraqi military. Lives are inherently valuable. Sure, comparatively the cost is much lower. But that doesn't mean the cost is good. Death sucks.

How many have been lost to abortion, an activity your side supports?

[Minky]

Vermin are far more valuable than unborn babies, docstew. They just don't realize that the vermin hate them just as much as they hate us. How could that fanatically religious group like that free lovin', drug pushin', no work ethic havin' bunch of hooligans?

[FreeBorn]

Yup.

If Arab Muslims put as much effort into progress as they do into hating everyone around them, they would have indoor plumbing by now.

...and T.P. too.

[franksolich]

I hope, very badly, that those who lost others in the War for the Liberation of Iraq don't think such heroes died in vain, because it seems ending pretty much a useless war and sacrifice.

I suspect God thinks otherwise.

[Cyrus]

Fully agree with Minky.

[Eupher]

Ah, I see little Bertie has blossomed and become all grown up now.

He's a world-class debate star. If you don't believe me, ask him.

I'll say this on the subject, though - when Congress fails to declare war, there will be a conclusion that isn't a conclusion. Among other things, this was a battle in the overall War on Terror. We tend to forget that.

The Battle for Iraq is over. The politicians have won.

[a777pilot]

The last convoy of US troops to leave Iraq has entered Kuwait, nearly nine years after the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

The final column of about 100 armoured vehicles carrying 500 soldiers crossed the southern Iraqi desert overnight.

At the peak of the operation there were 170,000 US troops and more than 500 bases in Iraq.

As the last of the armoured vehicles crossed the border, a gate was closed behind them and US and Kuwaiti soldiers gathered there to shake hands and pose for pictures.

BBC

History repeats.......

In the 70's we won in Vietnam then the Democrats gave it away.

Now, almost 40 years later we win in Iraq only to have it given away by the Democrats.