Withdrawal!

This is coolbert:

Among the major news headlines of the day - - we find:

"Last full U.S. combat brigade leaves Iraq"

"Final fighting force rolls into Kuwait; 50,000 Americans to remain"

"IRAQ-KUWAIT BORDER — The last U.S. combat troops crossed the border into Kuwait on Thursday morning, bringing to a close the active combat phase of a 7½-year war"

"about 50,000 U.S. troops will remain in the country, in a non-combat role providing support and training for the Iraqi military."

AHEAD of schedule - - the last U.S. ground combat unit [combat arms] leaves Iraq.

50,000 American soldiers to remain in Iraq for some time - - but not combat arms units. Combat support [CS] and combat service support [CSS]. That 50,000 to be withdrawn as well over a period of time [how long the slower withdrawal will take I am not sure!].

Personally I have grave concerns about the manner with which this draw-down from Iraq has occurred. Combat arms troops first to go - - leaving the CS and CSS soldiers behind. This strikes me as being an ass-backwards approach.

And very reminiscent of the situation as present in Vietnam - - FORTY YEARS ago now.

U.S. CS and CSS troops, not organized or equipped and having an organic combat capability - - IN PERIL if the situation in Iraq [as it did in Vietnam] goes from bad to worse. Troops, if need be, having to fight their way out of the country [Iraq] - - and again - - not having an organic capability to do so!

The Easter Offensive [1972] of the North Vietnamese [NVA] - - NEARLY resulting in a total breakdown and capitulation of the South Vietnamese Army [ARVN], those American soldiers remaining in Vietnam being placed in great danger. American forces in South Vietnam, as in Iraq today, NOT HAVING AN ORGANIC COMBAT CAPACITY!

THE CONVENTIONAL AND MASSIVE NVA ATTACK UPON SOUTH VIETNAM ONLY BEING STOPPED BY THE MASSIVE AND OVERWHELMING USE OF AMERICAN AIR POWER! Total disaster being averted - - but only barely.

Even the outstanding television news anchor and journalist, and a man who was easily conversant in such matters - - Howard K. Smith - - made the off-hand remark [I personally can recall vividly the exact words of the man himself] during an evening broadcast that someone at the top had made a very bad decision here [withdraw combat arms troops first], leaving the remaining American contingents in a dangerous and unwarranted position.

Let us hope the situation in Iraq DOES NOT go from bad to worse. A very bad potential disaster could be in the making.

coolbert.