US is planning buildup in Gulf after Iraq exit Pentagon draws up plans to reposition forces in case of Iraq flare-up or Iran confrontation By Thom Shanker and Steven Lee Myers
updated 10/30/2011 4:55:47 AM ET
MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — The Obama administration plans to bolster the American military presence in the Persian Gulf after it withdraws the remaining troops from Iraq this year, according to officials and diplomats. That repositioning could include new combat forces in Kuwait able to respond to a collapse of security in Iraq or a military confrontation with Iran. Only on msnbc.com Iowa Poll: Cain, Romney top field ahead of caucuses Bachmann defends stance on kids of illegal immigrants Do science and politics mix? Facebook says 600,000 account logins compromised every day Sports fans play the Washington game Rock Center: Birth tourism becomes a global industry Michael Moore confesses: I am the 1 percent The plans, under discussion for months, gained new urgency after President Obama’s announcement this month that the last American soldiers would be brought home from Iraq by the end of December. Ending the eight-year war was a central pledge of his presidential campaign, but American military officers and diplomats, as well as officials of several countries in the region, worry that the withdrawal could leave instability or worse in its wake. After unsuccessfully pressing both the Obama administration and the Iraqi government to permit as many as 20,000 American troops to remain in Iraq beyond 2011, the Pentagon is now drawing up an alternative. In addition to negotiations over maintaining a ground combat presence in Kuwait, the United States is considering sending more naval warships through international waters in the region. Expanding ties? With an eye on the threat of a belligerent Iran, the administration is also seeking to expand military ties with the six nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. While the United States has close bilateral military relationships with each, the administration and the military are trying to foster a new “security architecture” for the Persian Gulf that would integrate air and naval patrols and missile defense..........................>>>>.............................>>>>........................http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45093333/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times/#.Tq09HBw0jDo
“Today, I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year,” the president said in a midday appearance at the White House. Anticipating what he called “another season of homecomings,” he declared, “Our troops will definitely be home for the holidays.”
They will be home for the holidays and will just be deployed to the persian gulf and NOT iraq. Our nephew is a marine and has had two tours....one in afgan and one in iraq. He said this stuff is done ALL time.
He's not too sure that they even want us in the golf!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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