Is This The End?

Posted on 11/28/2008 at 8:18 am by Bob Cesca

The Iraqi parliament has voted us off the island:

It also sets out a timetable requiring American troops to withdraw from cities and towns by June 30, 2009, and for all troops to leave the country by the end of 2011 unless the Iraqis and Americans negotiate a separate pact to extend the American military presence.

Let’s hope this sticks. Tempering my own enthusiasm for this deal, I’ve always contended that we could withdraw every American from Iraq tomorrow and the war wouldn’t be over. Aftershocks in the form of terrorism, sectarian civil war and deepened anti-Americanism brought on by this invasion and occupation will be with us for decades, so the notion of “the war is over” is simplistic and nearsighted.

That said, this is another indication that the dark ride of the Bush years is truly ending.

This entry was posted in Iraq and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.
  • http://www.nonfatventing.blogspot.com jennifer pearson

    I’m cautiously optimistic.

  • FrictionSoul

    for this third – fucking fuck TypeShit – time, does this include private security company personnel?

  • http://girldujour.wordpress.com girl du jour

    Here is a thread on that which was started by a European woman.http://stephiblog.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/bushs-surrender-in-iraq/

  • http://www.osborneink.com Matt Osborne

    Ahem…Sorry to repeat the comment Bob, but I think it’s appropriate…Prince George was not a good man —And in his latter days,World leaders did not shake his hand,Much to his amaze.At G-20 meetings,When lining up on stage,They whispered of his ruined brand,And did not offer up their hands —They left Prince George a one-man band,Turning gray with age.Prince George was not a good man,And a lame old duck was he.On Oval Office afternoons,No one came round to see.And, round about November,Regulations in his queueMeant as gifts to backers past,Had missed the deadline at the last,The end had come so very fast,And rule of law renewed.Prince George was not a good man,Yet had his hopes and fears.The war he’d launched was endless nowFor years and years and years.But two months before Christmas,While Americans did shout,And happy songs of hope were sungWhile worldwide, bells readied to be rung,George stole away upstairs and hungA bill for fiscal bailing-out.Prince George was not a good man,He liked his long vacations;Alone he planned a new scheme outWhile venting his frustrations.He pushed his team to bargainAnd negotiate in trueWith Maliki and Talabani,To divvy up that oil money,And create from a process quite funnyA legacy for W.“Please fill my coffers,And my new library;I think a tour of speakingWould surely come in handy;I don’t mind oil-stock,And secretive renditions!And I SHOULD like to leave my staffIn permanent positions.And, oh! Father Christmas, for my legacy,Bring me a big, red Iraq war victory!”Prince George was not a good man —Riding fiscal crisis out,He gat him to his ranch again,There to pace and pout.Election night he lay there,Praying hope would lose to fear.“I think McCain’s a-surging now,(Anxiety bedewed his brow.)“He’ll win Ohio, anyhow —Just like I have for years.“Forget about the coffers,And forget about libraries;I’m sure a tour of speakingWould bore me, by my theory;I don’t need oil-stock,I don’t want rendition,And I HAVE put my loyal staffIn permanent positions.But, oh! Father Christmas, if I’m to have a legacy,Bring me a big, red Iraq-war victory!”Prince George was not a good man —Next morning when the sunRose up to tell a waiting worldObama had it won,And people seized each other,And laughed and danced with glee,For hope had many hearts endeared,Change more potent than vile smears,Prince George said grimly: “As I feared,Nothing for my legacy!”“I did want coffers,And a big library;I know a tour of speakingWould’ve come in handy;I do love oil-stock,I did love rendition.I haven’t got a loyal staff —In any old position.And, oh! if Father Christmas cared for my legacy,He would have brought Iraq war victory!”Prince George stood by the window,And there did glumly meetThe happy crowds of boys and girlsCelebrating in the street.A while he stood there watching,And envying them still…When through the window big and redThere hurtled by his royal head,And bounced and fell upon the bed,The Iraqi SOFA bill!AND OH, FATHER CHRISTMAS,YOU’VE ENDED OUR BEREAVEMENT…BY WRINGING AT LAST,FROM OUT OF GEORGE:A STATUS OF FORCESAGREEMENT!

  • http://www.broadwaycarl.blogspot.com Broadway Carl

    No one will remember that this deal was done under Bush’s watch. Worst case scenario: sectartian violence will thrive after US troops leave the cities by the end of June and the wingnuts will blame Obama for pulling troops out too early. Get ready for it.

  • prcleburne

    You make the same point I have been making since Viet Nam : just because we exit a war doesn’t mean the war is over. However, ” Stop The War Now ” fits on a bumper sticker, while ” Stop U.S. Involvement In The War Now ” doesn’t.P.S. This, along with Amazon’s ” Classic Rock “, is now my favorite blog.