Issue of the Week Answers

Why did Obama pull out troops from Iraq?

• The Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and Iraq expires at the end of the year. Officials had been discussing the possibility of maintaining several thousand U.S. troops to train Iraqi security forces, and the Iraqis wanted troops to stay but would not give them immunity, a key demand of the administration.

Does this make our military too weak?

• No. Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough told reporters that the U.S. assessment determined that Iraqis were ready and they proved they could fully take over their security. The U.S. will have a robust diplomatic presence and continue to train Iraqi forces, he said, but it will be similar to what it has in other countries.

What happens when the wars are over?

• I cannot answer this question.  No one can tell when the war will officially be over.  However, America's goal is to establish a peaceful and democratic government in the middle east.

Sources:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/obama-to-announce-complete-drawdown-of-u-s-troops-from-iraq-by-years-end/
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/05/opinion/hayden-iraq-troops/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/05/politics/pentagon-strategy-shift/index.html