The Common Ills: Barack's non-combat troops

Friday, June 27, 2014

Barack's non-combat troops

With Barack's sending 'non-combat troops' into Iraq this week, it's worth revisiting Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Non-Combat Troops" from August 8, 2010.

Two US soldiers in Iraq. One says, "So now, magically, we're 'non-combat' troops. What does that mean?" Second one replies, "I guess it means we act like our commander-in-chief. Pose for a ton of photos, go on a lot of vacations and yack it up with the ladies of The View." Isaiah archives his comics at The World Today Just Nuts.

Today, UPI reports:

Pentagon spokesman Col. Steven Warren said, of the 500 American military personnel in Iraq, "Some of them are conducting an advise and assist mission, some are manning the joint operations center, some of them are part of the [Office of Security Cooperation] and yet others are Marines that are part of a [fleet anti-terrorism security team] platoon."

A fleet anti-terrorism security team? Hmm. All Iraq News notes only 180 of the 500 are 'advisors' so 120 are still en route to make up Barack's 300 'advisors.'

At any rate, dropping back to the June 19th snapshot:

Let's flip through the scrapbook some more. August 31, 2010, Barack gave a speech from the Oval Office. Anyone remember it? Here's the opening:

Good evening. Tonight, I’d like to talk to you about the end of our combat mission in Iraq, the ongoing security challenges we face, and the need to rebuild our nation here at home.
I know this historic moment comes at a time of great uncertainty for many Americans. We’ve now been through nearly a decade of war. We’ve endured a long and painful recession. And sometimes in the midst of these storms, the future that we’re trying to build for our nation -- a future of lasting peace and long-term prosperity -- may seem beyond our reach.

But this milestone should serve as a reminder to all Americans that the future is ours to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment. It should also serve as a message to the world that the United States of America intends to sustain and strengthen our leadership in this young century.

Yea! War was over! Combat troops were out of the country! What was left was 'advisers,' right?

So he gave that speech August 31, 2010.

What happened the next month? Anyone, remember?

Here's a hint: Seven. And, no, we're not talking Jeri Ryan's character on Star Trek: Voyager.

7 was the number of US troops who died in Iraq in September 2010, when 'combat' operations were over and all 'combat' troops had left the country.

October 2010: 2 US troops were killed.

November 2010: 2 US troops were killed.

December 2010: 1

January 2011: 6

February 2011: 3

March 2011: 2

April 2011: 11

May 2011: 2

June 2011: 15

July 2011: 5

Zero for August 2011

September 2011: 4

October 2011: 4

November 2011: 2

Zero for December 2011.

Zero for January 2012.

August 31, 2010, Barack gave a speech about 'combat' soldiers leaving Iraq and 'combat' operations having ended but 66 troops would die after 'combat' ended.