Are we really out of Iraq? by Charity Maness

I, for one, was thrilled that our troops were coming home from Iraq. But did anyone really think it would be that simple?

We still have thousands of American men and women serving in Iraq...not from the Department of Defense...but from the State Department.

The small military presence left in Iraq under the Obama administrations plan is limited to several hundred officers located at embassy offices assisting Iraqis with purchasing equipment and placing equipment in the field. However, what is left out of this equation is the 6,000 to 7,000 State Department workers that were deployed to fill the void when the US Army left Iraq.



These workers are referred to as security contractors but have the added duty of being a 'quick reaction force' to rescue civilians in trouble, oversee diplomatic outposts, approve and accompany every civilian convoy, providing additional oversight. They will be responsible for creating a police training program to help Iraqis develop the skills to move from counterinsurgency operations to crime solving, they will also be responsible for developing the Ministry of Interior and law enforcement systems at national and local levels.

According to one news source, the cost of 'hiring security contractors, buying new equipment, and setting up two consulates totals $1 billion.' To make the consulates permanent will cost another $500 million. Creating a police training program and getting the program underway will cost approximately $800 million.

Equipment to be purchased to aid the contractors movement around Iraq without the protection of US Forces are; 60 mine resistant, ambush protected vehicles, called MRAP's from the Pentagon, 1,320 armored cars, a mini-air fleet of four planes, and 29 helicopters.

So I ask you...are we really out of Iraq?

UPDATE:
The Government of Iraq has temporarily detained hundreds of private multi national contractors, some US contractors, in the past weeks mostly for visa or weapons registration violations. The detainment can last 24-96 hours. Iraqi agencies seek to control free movement of foreign contractors. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been asked to intervene, but is unable to affect a change in what an Iraqi businessman described as a "turf war."
Three Departments within the Iraqi Government are vying for control of the contractors; defense, internal security and transportation.
Since the withdrawal of US troops the civilian casualty count from Al-Qaeda bombs and attacks, has exceeded 200 civilians.