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New Challenge for US in Iraq: Pulling Out

Military faces mammoth task hauling equipment out of Iraq as withdrawal gathers pace

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 9, 2009 6:01 AM CDT

(Newser) – American forces in Iraq have devoted a full sixth of their manpower to a task one commander compares to moving the entire population of Alaska across the world—with all their stuff. The military, in the biggest movement of personnel and material in over 40 years, is dismantling some 300 bases and shipping out over a million pieces of equipment, all while keeping the 124,000 troops still in the country supplied and being targeted by insurgents.

Much equipment is being sent straight to Afghanistan, while much more—up to a limit of $15 million per base—is being left to the Iraqis. Large-scale troop withdrawals aren't scheduled to start until after Iraq's January elections at the earliest, but planners say they can't afford to adopt a wait-and-see attitude. "You can’t wait for some big ‘Aha!’ moment,” one commander tells the New York Times. “That does not give you flexibility. That just puts you in a box.”

US soldiers prepare to leave Camp Brassfield-Mora as the US hands it over to the Iraqis earlier this week.
US soldiers prepare to leave Camp Brassfield-Mora as the US hands it over to the Iraqis earlier this week.   (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
A US soldier carries a bed frame in Camp Carver on the outskirts of Madain, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq.
A US soldier carries a bed frame in Camp Carver on the outskirts of Madain, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq.   (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File)
A member of the US military walks through Camp Bucca, in Iraq, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009.
A member of the US military walks through Camp Bucca, in Iraq, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009.   (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Spudsy
Oct 10, 2009 2:52 AM CDT
I believe that sooner or later these Iraqis will vote in a government that invokes Sharia law and any equipment we leave will be directed against our interests. They are a religious society and you can't fix stupid.
divetrader
Oct 9, 2009 12:23 PM CDT
Are you kidding? We got in there faster than W could say black gold. Seems like we should be able to get out just as fast.
Assassin
Oct 9, 2009 2:36 AM CDT
The truth is that the U.S. is Bankrupt & it's CHEAPER to send all this crap to Afghanistan or Crapistan or whatever Shitholistan is next.

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