Fourth Stryker Brigade -- last Troops fighting Operation Iraqi Freedom (Bush-Cheney March 2003 war - August 2010)

from a Chat discussion on the departure of final assigned Combat Unit from Iraq by way of Kuwait (August 19, 2010) -- 7 years and 5 months since the "Shock and Awe" bombing of Baghdad campaign / invasion of Iraq

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (chat leader is from Foreign Service Reporter of the Post- embedded with Stryker brigade, 2nd Infantry division)

What's the feeling among the troops in Iraq? Do they feel like the "mission" has been "accomplished" again?


Ernesto Londono: I think soldiers these days are pretty careful about declaring "mission accomplished," given the tortured history of those two words as they pertain to the Iraq war. Many leave feeling proud that they carried out the training mission they were tasked with -- and they feel that they leave behind an increasingly competent and strong Iraqi security force. However, many worry that the security gains could erode as the U.S. disengages, mainly because they don't think the country's political establishment has grown or matured in a way commensurate to the evolution of the security forces.
I would say the prevailing feeling is one of relief. They now see the end in sight. Those leaving now know they probably won't have to come back in uniform -- at least any time soon.

What are the odds that some of these troops will be deployed to AfPak? What do the troops think of that war? Do they see it as connected to Iraq? How long will this unit be at home before they may be deployed to a combat area again?

Ernesto Londono: These guys don't know where or when they'll deploy next. They will be home for at least a year, since army rule say that units must get at least as much home time as the duration of their last deployment.
I don't think many soldiers see a strong link between the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many have served in both. I think among folks in combat units, Afghanistan is a more attractive theater -- one where they can do more fighting and less nation building.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2010/08/19/DI2010081902891.html