Was President Obama AWOL On U.S. - Iraq Troop Talks

Did Obama Engage As U.S.-Iraqi Troop Talks Faltered? -- McClatchy News

BAGHDAD — Throughout the summer and autumn, as talks on a continued U.S. military presence in Iraq foundered, President Barack Obama and his point man on Iraq, Vice President Joe Biden, remained largely aloof from the process, logs released by the U.S. Embassy here suggest.

The omission would be an unusual one, given the high priority U.S. officials had given to achieving an agreement for some sort of residual U.S. presence in Iraq after the Dec. 31 pullout deadline, and the White House labeled the suggestion inaccurate. A spokesman said the logs released by the embassy were incomplete.

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My Comment: When compared to former President Bush who was always in contact with senior Iraqi leaders .... including with Prime Minister Maliki, President Obama's style and approach towards Iraq is definitely different. Did this approach rub the Iraqis the wrong way .... maybe .... but this lack of communications indicates to me a lack of interest from the White House to reach a U.S.-Iraqi security agreement .... that by leaving the negotiations to others the President ended up giving the Iraqis the impression that the U.S. wanted to move on .... which in the end is what the Iraqis have given us.

For U.S. Combat Soldiers, New Role In Iraq Is Frustrating

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Benjamin Bigelow, center, watches his soldiers create a ford over a river near the Iraq-Iran border, Iraq, Sept. 22, 2009. Bigelow is the commander, 9th Engineer Battalion, Company C. A bridge over the stream had been washed away by recent rains and the ford allows Military Transition Teams to conduct training with Iraqi border guards. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brien Vorhees

From McClatchy News:

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq -- Before Army 1st Lt. Bianca Philson's first deployment to Iraq earlier this year, she trained as a battle captain, learning how to keep commanders informed of progress during fierce fights against insurgents.

Philson's extensive drills included simulated urban gun battles, intelligence gathering and jamming signals to prevent the detonation of roadside bombs. Now that she's been in Iraq for five months, how much of that training is put into practice?

"None," said Philson, 24, of Huntsville, Ala. "I don't do any of that stuff."

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My Comment: The old saying .... "do not wish what you may get" .... certainly applies to these young soldiers.

Don't worry .... Afghanistan will be beckoning many of them by next year.