Withdrawal Reports Anger Families and Soldiers

What is this all about? Every article I read and the MSNBC report covering the troops crossing the boarder of Kuwait stated clearly that 50,000 troops would be remaining in Iraq as "advisors" and support. Not one report I read said that they were all coming home. If the soldiers and families are angry over reports that came out what is behind it? The deadline for all combat troops to be out of Iraq was this month and the deadline for all troops to be out of Iraq is next year. Is it because the American public has not been interested in paying attention to any of this?

Combat operations have ended. The troops were no longer taking the lead in combat operations and the Iraqis have been responsible depending on the troops for help. No one has said there is no longer any danger for our troops in Iraq but it has been reduced. Take a look at the numbers and know what the truth is.

Iraq
2003 486
2004 849
2005 846
2006 822
2007 904
2008 314
2009 149
2010 46
Total 4416

Afghanistan
2001 12
2002 49
2003 48
2004 52
2005 99
2006 98
2007 117
2008 155
2009 317
2010 286
Total 1233
http://www.icasualties.org/

The combat operations have been over for a while now but we still lost lives and now that the combat forces have been withdrawn we still need to hold all the others there in our prayers. We still lost 46 this year and they are still in danger just traveling in Iraq. So what is behind this report? How can soldiers' families not know the difference between "combat" operations and troops still there? We still have about 50,000 troops stationed in Germany but they are not on combat missions in Germany. If anyone does not understand this, they have not been paying attention enough to know the difference.

Withdrawal Reports Anger Families and Soldiers Fighting in Iraq
Recent reports have been touting the end of combat operations in Iraq, saying the last of the combat troops have left, but the reports are angering some of the tens of thousands of troops who are still there and will remain there.
Posted: 11:04 AM Aug 19, 2010
Reporter: Leslie Fichera

Recent reports have been touting the end of combat operations in Iraq, saying the last of the combat troops have left, but the reports are angering some of the tens of thousands of troops who are still there and will remain there.

Just Thursday morning, Capt. Christopher Ophardt, spokesman for the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, said the last of the unit's vehicles were crossing the border into Kuwait. Reports from the U.S. Military say the last U.S. brigade officially classed as a combat unit formally handed over responsibilities to its Iraqi counterparts on August 7, but U.S. troops have been steadily flowing out of the country on transport aircraft and by road for a year.

However, tens of thousands of troops remain in Iraq, including thousands of Fort Carson soldiers.

11 News has received feedback from Fort Carson soldiers and families saying these reports are upsetting and are not representative of the fight that is far from over in Iraq.

Kiera Defaria's father will see her first day of kindergarten only by clicking on a video link on Facebook. Staff Sergeant Wagner Defaria is a 3rd Brigade Combat Team soldier from Ft. Carson currently in southern Iraq.

Michelle Defaria, who works for KKTV, is Wagner's wife and thought recent reports of the troop draw-down might end her husband's fourth deployment early.

"I thought, he's on a plane," she said. "Oh my God, he's coming home."

Now she's dismayed and disgruntled that those reports could mislead the American public, and she's not alone.

The assignment for thousands of soldiers is not over.
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Withdrawal Reports Anger Families and Soldiers

Combat brigades in Iraq under different name
As the final convoy of the Army’s 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Lewis, Wash., entered Kuwait early Thursday, a different Stryker brigade remained in Iraq.