A brigade of U.S. troops originally scheduled to be among the very last to leave Iraq is being pulled out of the country months ahead of its planned departure, military officials said Saturday.
The announcement follows news this month that a deal to keep American troops in Iraq past a December 31, 2011, deadline to withdraw was on shaky ground after Iraqi leadership said any remaining U.S. forces would not be granted immunity from Iraqi prosecution. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and other top brass have repeatedly said any deal to keep U.S. troops in Iraq beyond the withdrawal deadline must require a guarantee of legal protection for American soldiers.
The Fourth Brigade Combat Team, First Armored Division, based at Fort Bliss, deployed to Iraq in August to replace two withdrawing brigades. The troops were sent with the understanding they would be among the last to leave the country and were told to expect up to a 12-month deployment, though it wasn't clear how long they would stay in Iraq. But brigade officials informed hundreds of military families gathered Saturday at its headquarters that their troops would begin returning home within weeks.
When family members inquired why soldiers were returning early, they were told by a military official: "Basically, what's happened ... is that the United States and Iraq have not come to an agreement," according to a CNN reporter who attended the meeting.
FULL STORY
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@Leah,Are you from Michigan? duh!
No. You know where I live, Dad. Now go to bed.
Sure. I love surprises!
Donna and Crissy tell us about your coffee can *N*i*p*p*l*e*s*!
lmao mary mary quite contrary...u mad cuz ur wannabe bf is obsessed with someone else? and i would talk bout trailer trash at least i know how to spell your name right lol
omg now mary is fantasizing about us donna ewww and all this time i thought she was a polesmoker lmfao
Sure, after you tell us all about your strap-on.
@banasy: you give me half a stalk when you talk like that.. Caramia..
ok this has been real! NOT! GN
Word.
word
word
I see that these lame-brained Tea Partiers have taken over this web page too. Just look at all those idiotic comments above!!! Now getting back to the subject, who in their right mind would believe that those bozoes in question deserve immunity from prosecution? Shouldn't they like any other criminal be held accountable for their actions??? I think so!
LEEINTULSA IM GONNA VOTE FOR U IN 2012!
PHILIP THE PHONEY PHILIP THE PHONEY PHILIP THE PHONEY IT MATCHES PHILIP THE
BIT*H