On Iraq - everyone take a breath

As with most things in the MSM about the war and the CINC and what is said - it is best to read the whole thing.

The title.

Obama: US combat in Iraq to end by Aug. 31, 2010

The pull quote.

"I have come to speak to you about how the war in Iraq will end," President Barack Obama on Friday moved to fulfill the defining promise of his campaign, saying all U.S. combat troops will be withdrawn by the end of August 2010.

But in the same speech before Marines and military leadership here, he announced that the vast majority of those involved in the pullout will not leave this year.

...and the rest of the story.

And even after the drawdown, a sizable U.S. force of 35,000 to 50,000 U.S. troops will stay in Iraq under a new mission of training, civilian protection and counterterrorism.

I guess it depends on the definitions of "war" and "combat," but there will be a lot going on after 10AUG10 if we need to - and there will be combat unless everyone is ordered to be a FOBit - CT will require combat - full stop.

As a side note: calendar based planning is a recipe for disaster - I am more of a conditions based guy; but there is no reason to panic - let's see how it goes.