Immunity for troops was Iraq deal breaker

(CBS News) 

President Obama pulled the plug Friday on negotiations that would have kept American troops in Iraq past the end of this year. CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports the president's demand for immunity for U.S. troops stationed there was the dealbreaker.

Iraq war: Human and financial costs by the numbers

"I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year," Mr. Obama said. "After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over."

For better or worse, the military operation which began with "shock and awe" in March 2003 only to descend into the mayhem of civil war is really going to end - even though both Americans and Iraqis agree there are still holes in Iraqi defenses. The U.S. had offered to keep up to 5,000 troops there to train Iraqis in air defense, intelligence, and protecting against the threat of invasion, particularly from Iran.

But scarred by scandals like the abuse at Abu Ghraib prison, the killings -- both accidental and deliberate -- of civilians, and incidents with security contractors like the Blackwater guards who gunned down people in a public square, Iraqi politicians refused to grant American troops immunity from prosecution under local laws.

Immunity is a standard agreement wherever U.S. forces are deployed. Without it, the 39,000 troops still in Iraq (down from a high of 170,000) will now all be out by Dec. 31.

"Today I can say that our troops in Iraq will definitely be home for the holidays," Mr. Obama said.

The Bush administration had originally agreed to the Dec. 31, 2011, withdrawal date, but the assumption had always been that a new agreement would keep a smaller number of troops in Iraq for several more years to come.

GOP slams, Democrats praise Obama over Iraq withdrawal

Now the only troops who will remain are a couple hundred assigned to the embassy in Baghdad to administer the sale of U.S. military equipment.

Getting out will probably make for good politics in both countries, the question is whether it will make for good strategy.

[stn_sage]

And, WHY do you think Obama asked for a condition that he KNEW would PREVENT A DEAL?!
Answer: Because he didn't want a deal!!
He WANTS to get re-elected, that's what he wants!
And, him and his handlers are hoping that Americans are stupid
enough to re-elect him on the basis of this cynical ploy!
SO, are YOU stupid enough to 'fall for it'?!

[rvauthor]

I would suggest that all these analysts who think we should leave troops in Iraq without immunity should feel free to get on a plane and fly straight to Iraq, and join in the fray against Iranian influence. If they don't think we should be leaving at the end of the year, why didn't they say something when President Bush agreed to the date when his administration agreed to, and signed the agreement with Iraq, in 2008.

Also, I wonder how many of the pundits and politicians, and wannabees who disagree with President Obama's decision to remove troops unless they are granted immunity, similar to the status of forces agreements we have with every other nation where we station U.S. troops (no immunity, no troops), ever served in the Armed Forces.

[bajajohn1]

Republicans are steaming mad at our withdrawal from Iraq; but the main question remains: Did the Chicken Hawks put on a uniform and volunteer to do the fighting and the dying?

Yes, one must not forget that are also steaming mad because President Obama is keeping his campaign pledge and also because the military-industrial complex will lose billions in war business.

[Anotheryahoo]

If we want to really end wars just put a system in place for Republicans and draft dodgers that if you want war you are 1st to go. That would end all of these stupid wars by cowardly draft dodgers.

[TellitTrue]

@ainttaken, did you have anything coherent to contribute? 'Cuz, your liberal rants rank right up there with Biden's.

[mecanik-2009]

It doesn't matter why we're getting out it just matters that we're finally getting out. It's been a dog and pony show from the beginning and it's time to shut down the show and go home.

[Imthaid2]

Ain't that just like america? Demanding that americans are not held responsible for their actions and abuses.

[irreverentasever]

1.3 Trillion dollars and over 4,000 US servicemen and servicewomen lives lost in this war and Republicans are mad that we are doing a total pullout? Now politicians are debating reducing the benefits that service people have earned and entitled to for their lifetime? These politicians have already made one mistake I would advise them not to make two.

[Sloughfoot]

America will soon be out of a country we should have never invaded. That the GOP wants to take issue with this withdrawl speaks volumes for the inbed relationship with DOD contractors that quickly developed during baby bush's tenure.

That the GOP has shown such blatant disregard for the plight of the American troops had a few hundred been left in that unstable political arena. This morass was of GOP and baby bush's making, that Pres. Obama is about to bring it to an end and reduce the waste we have poured into that sewer of humanity which baby bush created is an accomplishment greater then the GOP can allow to go unchallenged.

[TellitTrue]

We spoiled Americans never learn. We're making the same mistake we did when we left Vietnam. We listened to the liars and cowards, and left the country to its own devices before it was ready. The enemy then gleefully moved in and took over, rendering all of the lost lives absolutely meaningless. When the executions commence in Iraq, we'll pretend not to notice, just as we did in 'Nam. Iraq will soon have an Ayatolla and will become another militant Islamic state, just like their neighbor, Iran. The Kurds will likely be slaughtered, as will "unapproved" Islamic factions. The women that aren't killed will lose all the rights they have gained. We'll watch it all on MSNBC, thankful that we're not involved. Only a few of us will feel the shame, knowing we had the ability to prevent it, but chose not to get involved. We were too busy Bush-bashing to consider the Iraqi people.

[TellitTrue]

Vietnam is doing well - the ones that lived, anyway. Who cares about the others? None of our business if a couple of million people are executed, now is it? When you hear screaming from the alley, do you avert your eyes and keep walking so you aren't involved? Yeah, I'd be ashamed of that. Pity for you that you wouldn't.

By the way, it's about TODAY. Doesn't matter if we should have or shouldn't have - WE DID. It's about making the best decision for withdrawal, not bickering about whether we should have gone in the first place.. Thanks to people like you, we have taken the coward's way out - AGAIN.

[Goofer-Buddy]

So much for the "shock and awe" strategy..... It has been replaced by "Duck and Explain".....

[FL_Son]

Perfect ending to this fradulent military operation concocted by cowardly non serving Neocons. Why are we leaving ? Job done ? no. Situation settled ? no. Objectives achieved? no. We are leaving because our soldiers would be liable for illegal behaviour ! Can't have that.
War based on lies ? FINE ! No limit on cost ? FINE ! No limit on time ? FINE ! But liable for actions ? NO WAY.
Looks like this one is over, time to move on to the next contract.. I mean conflict. Would Iran let our army have immunity?
Hmmmmm.

[nor-one]

Wake up folks!! It wasn't immunity for the troops that was the hang up. It was the hired killers that work for the state department and the CIA that they refused to give it to. You can't have the hired help being held responsible for their actions.

[TellitTrue]

Did you mean, Iraq ISN'T a Democracy today? Did you mean, creating a democracy was "cowardly," while doing nothing about "rape rooms" and people being fed into shredders was "brave?" Did you mean, Biological weapons aren't WMD? Or, is it a lie to claim Hussein didn't have them? Aside from the typical, venomous liberal talking points, do you know ANYTHING about the war? Didn't think so...