What War? US Turns from War on Iraq to Permanent Occupation

Despite Obama’s announcement that US combat troops are leaving Iraq, giving rise to the popular perception that the war is over, this isn't really the case. The US has been forced to withdraw its military units—in part because it couldn't forge a new status of forces agreement with the Iraqi government. But thousands of US diplomats, military contractors, CIA operatives & other support personnel will remain in Iraq after year's end. The US will still have tens of thousands of troops, as well as air & naval power & various military alliances in the Middle East & Central Asia. 23,000 of those troops will be stationed across the border in Kuwait. The status of forces agreement is in compliance with a treaty that Bush & Maliki made 3 years ago. The Obama administration, through the State Dept., pursued its plan to keep US fighting forces in Iraq beyond this year. It was the Maliki government, in general very compliant to its US backers, that balked at allowing US military to stay because the terms demanded by Obama included immunity from local prosecution for the troops. The largest US embassy in the world is in Baghdad. The State Dept. will continue to have 5,000 security contractors & 4,500 other support contractors in Iraq as well as a significant CIA presence & there will be a continuing military relationship with Iraq including the training of Iraqi forces.