Out of Iraq? No Fucking Chance
Source: Obama's campaign promise to get us out of Iraq in sixteen months gave him the electoral heft to oust "frontrunner" Hillary and catapulted him into the White House.Yet, now that the public's attention is fixed on our swiftly deteriorating economic plight, that promise is being quietly – but definitely – broken.
I've been predicting that for god-knows-how-many weeks, but now we have substantial evidence that my hunch presaged an emerging reality. Eli Lake reports in the Washington Times:
"As President Obama weighs options for withdrawing U.S. combat troops from Iraq, the country's military is purchasing American helicopters, cargo planes and tanks equipment that typically requires a prolonged U.S. presence for maintenance and training.
"Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, who is in charge of training Iraq's security services and military, told The Washington Times that some of the ordered equipment would not be delivered until 2012, even though a new status of forces agreement (SOFA) requires all U.S. troops to exit the country by 2011."
To Gen. Helmick, this looks like the Iraqis are seeking "a long-term strategic relationship with the United States."
Translation: We ain't leaving!
Remember that "residual force" Obama mumbled about under his breath, right after pledging to Get US Out? Yeah, well they'll be there well beyond 2011, maintaining, guarding, and otherwise souping-up all the neat gear we're going to be selling them.
Hey, it's all part of the economic "stimulus" plan, don'tcha know – after all, the military-industrial complex needs a bailout, too, along with the banks, the auto industry, and the makers of bridges-to-nowhere. As Lake reports:
"The deals also will begin to redress the economic costs borne by United States to wage the Iraq war.
Among the U.S. companies that will benefit from contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars are General Dynamics, which makes the M1 Abrams tank, Bell Boeing, which produces the assault helicopters, and Lockheed Martin, which makes the C130-J Super Hercules tactical airlifter.
Lockheed Martin also makes the F-16 fighter jet, which also is generating some Iraqi interest, Gen. Helmick said."
Got that? The costs are borne by the United States government – but the "redress" goes to General Dynamics, Boeing, and Lockheed-Martin. Funny how that works….
Yes, folks, the General predicts that we're in for a "long-term strategic relationship" with the Iraqis – kind of like a sugar-daddy/ho arrangement.
US aid will flow into Iraqi coffers and into the pockets of politically-favored US companies. It's the new crony capitalism in action – with a distinctly military beat.
The status of forces agreement stipulates that all US forces must be out by the end of 2011, but nothing must be allowed to get in the way of the war industry's profits:
According to Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell, the US will ask for an "adjustment" in the agreement – which can no doubt be made after some more cash exchanges hands. More...