I'm just wondering as to the extent of the agreement, obviously the government is still going to be a puppet government for the American oil industry (The re-establishment of the Haifa-Mosul oil-line is a prime example), but how long will the military forces stay around? Are there any plans for perminant bases? Do you think you can have a stable Iraq with a puppet government and permanent military bases?

American military has been in Japan for over 60 years now, and is only beginning a limited withdrawal. Japan is the only place in the world other than American ports that have American aircraft carriers deployed as a home base.

American forces in South Korea have been there since the signing of the armistice between North and South in 1953.

KMC in Germany is one of the largest military bases in the world with tens of thousands of U.S. troops.

The "embassy" being built in Baghdad is a large armored fortress that dominates the surrounding landscape. I don't really know for a fact but I imagine troops could be stationed there, not to mention the sprawling fortified Green Zone which contains the Iraqi national government as well as American military commanders.

The Status of Forces Agreement that was signed recently calls for most American troops to be out by 2011. But we'll see what happens. Looking at history, it seems this nation has a hard time ever pulling out of anywhere.

Yeah looking at history it doesn't seem very hopeful... But I think a few newer factors come into play here.

Arabs don't seem to be very resistant to foriegn threads, but the backlash of the instrugency in Iraq is unpresented, the political situtation is very unique, and oil paticularly is the most impacting factor.

Germany and Japan neither have anything as valuable as oil to America, but the Iraq war also seems to be extremely disliked by a lot of Americans (far more than say the Vietnam war or WW2).

So all these factors might contribute differently to the imperialist history of America, I guess the only way to really find out is to wait it out and see what happens like you said, eh? I really don't think the Iraqi people will be seeing peace any time soon though...

*uses best GW impression* 'Til the missions accomplished.

Hopefully a long time. There's a lot of job opportunities thanks to this war and they need to stay open for as long as possible with the economy in such a bad shape thanks to democrats forcing banks to give out unions to whiny ass poor people.

untill december 21 of 2012

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7787103.stm



Perhaps if more coalition forces pull out it may encourage the US to follow suit within the Obama premiership?

^ Wishful thinking.

There's too many economic interests at stake, I doubt there will a complete withdrawal of troops from Iraq, they definately have some secret agreement with the Iraqi government for long-term bases.

There's too many economic interests at stake, I doubt there will a complete withdrawal of troops from Iraq, they definately have some secret agreement with the Iraqi government for long-term bases.

Oh for sure. Even Brown hasn't said there will be categorically no British troops on Iraqi soil after July 2009. Several hundred "advisors" will be left behind to train the Iraqi army, and it wouldn't surprise me if we leave a few behind on airport and oil well security. The hope is that if/when Obama loses all foreign allies in an already immensly unpopular war he'll decide to pull US troops out from patrol. Considering the lingering military presence in Germany, Korea and Japan it would be unprecidented for the US to leave without holding on to a strategic military base or three.

The Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, told the BBC there would be a significant reduction in UK personnel in Iraq by next year.

On an utterly unrelated note, if your surname was "Stirrup" why the FUCK would you call your son "Jock"??? Cruelty of the highest order :D.

How long will the US military forces stay in Iraq?Exactly as long as they would have had John McCain been elected president. That's gotta make the left happy, huh?

Exactly as long as they would have had John McCain been elected president. That's gotta make the left happy, huh?

Bingo.

Yeah, once the bulk of the force get's pulled, I assume there will still be "peacekeeping" missions within the country. If we were to just up and out, the possibility of "undesirables" filling the new gap in power seems likely.

The short answer to this is another 19 months. 18 Months after Obama takes office. But, as we have seen many times over, it will most likely drag on another year before 99% of the troops will get out. I see 1% of American forces staying maybe 5 years longer as UN police patroll. But you realize Obama is shifting the war and not bringing people home. He wants to do what we should have done in 03 and that was focus on Osama Bin Laden. So this war may last for another decade if Osama can illude our armed forces. Of course something new will pop up. Like Iran being a pain in the ass. Or we go back to huge demands for oil and all of a sudden we find ourselves defending our artic region for oil. Who gets what and who can put what platforms where.

I'd say the first major pullout will occur around 2010. Over the next 5 years there will be smaller, but steady pull outs until around 2015, when the US will have anywhere between 10,000-30,000 troops, "advisors", or "peacekeepers" (Depending on who's the President at the time, the regional situation, etc.).

After that, there are too many variables to give an accurate estimate. The main variable is the oil situation. There's no way the world will "go green" by 2020. Also, with Pakistan as an Observer in the SCO and Iran trying for SCO Observer status, the US (along with the EU) might find it prudent to keep more troops in the region.

To my knowledge we are building something like 14 permanent bases in Iraq, and given our track record since WWII, I would say not anytime soon.

^^ Huh?

If I'm not correct, under the current military strategy, we have just handed over the Green Zone to the Iraqis, we will pull troops out of the cities by (or starting?) June, and we will remove almost all troops by December 2011.

US forces didn't hand over the Green Zone security to the Iraqi puppet government. Like all things related, its a sham. The Iraqi Armed Forces have to be propped up by the American Forces. Without them they collapse. Thats already been seen time and time again. The whole handover thing is a show meant to have the appearance that the Iraqi forces are becoming stronger and can stand by themselves. At least thats what they want the world to believe.

The US will have a military presence in Iraq indefinitely. As others have mentioned the US is establishing permanent bases there. American troops will be there as well, the troop number varying, in order to continue to support the puppet government and Iraqi military forces until they can function on their own, if ever.

This seems familiar to me as well. I believe the 14 military bases were part of terms in the "Status of Forces Agreement" agreed over the Summer.