[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/09/03/ceremony.iraq.art.jpg caption="BAGHDAD – SEPTEMBER 1: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L), U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (C) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen (R) stand during the U.S. national anthem during U.S. Forces-Iraq change of command ceremony September 1, 2010 in Baghdad, Iraq. "]
By David I. Levy, Production
The President announced the end of combat operations in Iraq on Tuesday. On Wednesday, The Vice President ceremonially handed the mission over to the Iraqis.
So, are we done in Iraq? No, and the administration never really said we were. We are transitioning to a new mission in Iraq, more politically and diplomatically focused.
But it's just so tempting to focus on the "end of the combat operations" part. The fact that is 50,000 troops are going to remain in Iraq. That is a huge commitment.
The number 50,000 stuck in my head when I heard it, and after some googling, I remembered why. 50,000 is almost the same number of soldiers and civilians I served with when I was in the Air Force stationed in Germany. The Kaiserslautern Military Community, or KMC, is about 53,000 people and is the largest military community outside the United States.
That means we're keeping a force in Iraq that's almost as large as our largest overseas military community. Or, let's compare that to another country, Korea. The official website of the U.S. 8th Army in Korea states that "U.S. troop level in Korea presently stands at 28,500 in the force."
So while 50,000 troops reflects a steep drawdown from active combat operations, it's still a huge number among our installations overseas. The President didn't mention how many civilians there will be.
But that's only until 2011, right? Well, maybe. The Iraqis can ask us to stay and there's good reason to think they might. Sectarian violence remains a big problem and Iraq's parliament still hasn't formed a coalition government. Iraqis also have some issues to work out with their neighbors, Iran and Turkey. We're friendly with Turkey, but Iran has been a thorn in our side, to say the least.
So while Operation Iraqi Freedom may be over, let's remember this is only a transition, not the end.