Advisers and Assisters

Well, it's better than Peacekeeper, one supposes.

...The US military and the Obama administration loudly trumpeted the withdrawal of the "last combat brigade" from Iraq last week, but news reports suggest the move is purely semantic: The combat brigades are still there, but under a different name.

The Army Times reported on Saturday that the US still has seven combat brigades inside Iraq, but they have been renamed "advise and assist brigades..."

On Friday, US House representative and noted Iraq war opponent Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) slammed the withdrawal announcement as an Orwellian "lie."

Who is in charge of our operations in Iraq, now? George Orwell? A war based on lies continues to be a war based on lies. Today, we have a war that is not a war, with combat troops who are not combat troops. In 2003, President Bush said ' Mission Accomplished.' In 2010, the White House says combat operations are over in Iraq, but will leave 50,000 troops, many of whom will inevitably be involved in combat-related activities.

The US military presence in Iraq may continue long after the end of 2011, when all American forces are supposed to depart under a security agreement.

Top military leaders in both countries acknowledge Iraq still may need help from the US armed forces after 2011...

Ahh, but it won't be combat, because we aren't calling it that.

And the soldier killed today on the first day after withdrawal? Doubtless pelleted with roses from those being mentored...

Somebody is insane, and he/ she/ it has Obama's heart and mind and cajones, too.