THE END OF COMBAT IN IRAQ?

President Obama is scheduled to announce tonight the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq after seven-and-a-half years of the U.S. invasion of that country. The troop draw-down is to be about 100,000. However about 50,000 will remain to advise and train Iraqi soldiers and provide logistical support. Tens of thousands of private contractors will remain to continue to reek havoc (remember Blackwater and their deadly attacks on Iraqi civilians?). My hope is that somehow the U.S. can rebuild the infrastructure they tore down so that the people of Iraq can once again have access to clean water, efficient electricity, gas, and transportation among other necessities. I would also like to see the deadly and destructive residual effects of the ILLEGAL depleted uranium at least minimized. There have been reports of Iraqi children being born with half a head and half a brain due to this ILLEGAL substance. Plus, American soldiers have been reported to have contracted various forms of cancer due to their exposure to it. Well, at least, thank God, 100,000 will be returning home - hopefully soon. Now let us pray that they are not subsequently deployed to South America to disrupt the flow of self-determination among those countries such as Venezuela and Bolivia behind some illusionary pre-text.