Decreasing Iraq troops places American soldiers at risk

Decreasing Iraq troops places American soldiers at risk.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 – Washington Times by Henry D’Andrea

PHOENIX, September 14, 2011—President Obama’s announcement that only 3,000 troops will be left in Iraq by the end of the year heralds a serious and dangerous downgrade from the current 45,000 troops, spelling disaster for our soldiers. According to a FOXNEWS report, President Obama’s military commanders are livid over this recent decision – a decision that Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, allegedly gave signature to.

President Obama may be trying to keep a 2008 campaign promise to remove our troops from Iraq however the problems is that regardless of what some misguided people may say, the war in Iraq is not over, there are current combat operations still occurring there. American troops are still being attacked and dying.

By leaving only 3,000 troops in a combat zone will save billions and billions of dollars. But, what is the real cost? American military lives are the cost.

According to Department of Defense data, there are nearly 10,000 US troops in both England and Italy, which are non-combat zone. The last time there were more than that amount was during World War II. There are over 8,000 troops in Qatar and over 10,000 in Kuwait. Guam has over 2,800 of our troops stationed there.

How does President Obama think that 3,000 troops can control an active combat zone where the current 45,000 troops are still facing death each day?