With much fanfare Obama today announced, and confirmed a previous commitment, that 90,000 combat troops would be leaving Iraq by the end of this month.
Of course that leaves the not insubstantial number of 50,000 troops in Iraq to undertake so-called security duties.
Behind the headlines is the awful statistic that the past 2 months were the worst for 2 years for deaths in Iraq as a result of the violence racking the country. Even of greater concern is that Iraq hasn't had a Government, or Parliament, for 5 months now. The Washington Post reports in "Iraqis don't expect political impasse to be resolved by fall" on this vacuum:
"Nearly five months after disputed parliamentary elections, leading Iraqi politicians say they have all but abandoned hope of resolving an impasse over forming a new government before fall.
The protracted stalemate is a scenario U.S. officials have long dreaded. By the end of August, the United States will declare the end of its combat mission in Iraq -- and reduce troop strength to 50,000 -- amid a deepening political crisis.
In the coming weeks, Washington will install a new ambassador and a new top general in Baghdad. American officials had hoped the next Iraqi administration would have been in place well before their change of guard to help ensure a smooth transition at a delicate time. U.S. officials have long feared that Iraq's first transfer of power as a sovereign nation could be marred by unrest and violence."
Of course that leaves the not insubstantial number of 50,000 troops in Iraq to undertake so-called security duties.
Behind the headlines is the awful statistic that the past 2 months were the worst for 2 years for deaths in Iraq as a result of the violence racking the country. Even of greater concern is that Iraq hasn't had a Government, or Parliament, for 5 months now. The Washington Post reports in "Iraqis don't expect political impasse to be resolved by fall" on this vacuum:
"Nearly five months after disputed parliamentary elections, leading Iraqi politicians say they have all but abandoned hope of resolving an impasse over forming a new government before fall.
The protracted stalemate is a scenario U.S. officials have long dreaded. By the end of August, the United States will declare the end of its combat mission in Iraq -- and reduce troop strength to 50,000 -- amid a deepening political crisis.
In the coming weeks, Washington will install a new ambassador and a new top general in Baghdad. American officials had hoped the next Iraqi administration would have been in place well before their change of guard to help ensure a smooth transition at a delicate time. U.S. officials have long feared that Iraq's first transfer of power as a sovereign nation could be marred by unrest and violence."
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