US Will Withdraw All Forces from Iraq by September

WASHINGTON -- All remaining US military forces will be out of Iraq by the end of September, the nation's new prime minister Ali al-Zaidi said during a Tuesday visit to the White House.
"On the 30th of September, the US forces will be out of Iraq, while these companies will be inside Iraq," al-Zaidi said through a translator when speaking to reporters alongside President Trump in the Oval Office.
About 2,000 US troops currently are stationed in Iraq, mostly at the Harir Air Base in Erbil in the northern Kurdistan region.
Washington and Baghdad agreed in September 2024 to a phased withdrawal of US forces who had remained to support counter-Islamic State (ISIS) operations at the request of the Kurdish regional government.

Trump withdrew US troops in April from Syria, where they also helped crush the jihadist caliphate, which once claimed vast territories in the two countries.

...
The current withdrawal reflects a shift in US focus after Trump forged a partnership with Syria's ex-al Qaeda president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, whom he has credited with imposing stability over his nation.

...
Trump showered al-Zaidi with praise during his visit, announcing the men would have an unplanned lunch and predicting the "handsome" new leader, 41, would serve as a long-term leader with significant influence in the region.

The strikes continue in Iran.

And the blockade.

U.S. Central Command
@CENTCOM
53m
U.S. Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct a verification boarding aboard M/T Wen Yao in the Gulf of Oman, July 16.
As of today, American forces have redirected 3 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled 1 that didn’t comply, and boarded 1 to ensure full compliance with the ongoing U.S. naval blockade against Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding waters remain free and open, except for vessels attempting to violate America’s steel wall blockade.

Trump's long-promised campaign to take out the bridges has begun:

U.S. STRIKES IRANIAN INFRASTRUCTURE

The United States is now targeting Iranian infrastructure, following through on President Donald Trump’s warning that Tehran would face escalating consequences for its continued aggression.

Reports indicate that multiple bridges, railway… pic.twitter.com/mZKWXQEUfM
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) July 16, 2026

This bridge that was struck by U.S. tonight carries Route 76, the main highway linking Bandar Abbas with Lar and onward to Shiraz.

It is a key piece of infrastructure for both commercial freight moving to and from the Port of Bandar Abbas and passenger traffic traveling between… https://t.co/S519YFlZY4 pic.twitter.com/9gjal2mwHD
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) July 16, 2026

BREAKING: The US has destroyed the bridge connecting Shiraz to Bandar Abbas in Iran. pic.twitter.com/1erPCkkZ04
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) July 16, 2026

Iranian military base destroyed.

700 missiles were fired at Iran. 100 Iranian soldiers were killed. pic.twitter.com/MPzrysTIjf
— Israel Army (@Netanyahu_News) July 16, 2026

Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 06:40 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Yep

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at July 16, 2026 06:41 PM (9NN0K)

2 I'm fer it.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at July 16, 2026 06:42 PM (kpS4V)

3 I think it's the correct decision.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at July 16, 2026 06:43 PM (ExV1e)

4 What About It stream of Starship XIII
youtu.be/i4m9kWLlqr0

Posted by: gKWVE at July 16, 2026 06:44 PM (gKWVE)

5
This test is going to deploy about 20 Starlinks. They will be sacrificed, as it's a sub-orbital trajectory and they'll just burn up. But it's testing the deployment of real satellites, not dummies, and some other comms stuff.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at July 16, 2026 06:44 PM (w6EFb)

6 One thing cutting the route to Bandar Abbas does is keep the IGRC from *reinforcing* Bandar Abbas if needed.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 16, 2026 06:45 PM (uhVAy)

7 Persian bridges lost their arch supports.

Posted by: mrp at July 16, 2026 06:45 PM (rj6Yv)

8 U.S. STRIKES IRANIAN INFRASTRUCTURE

The United States is now targeting Iranian infrastructure, following through on President Donald Trump’s warning that Tehran would face escalating consequences for its continued aggression.

Reports indicate that multiple bridges, railway lined and airports have been struck....and it's still early in the night.

It's the last act of a desperate man! Iran really had Trump bent over a barrel now!

Posted by: Bluesky, probably at July 16, 2026 06:45 PM (5/BQI)

9 >>>Is this good? I don't know.

Some are saying that this move is to make sure, should the US have a President Slotkin or worse in 2028, there will be no forward bases to gin up further Middle East wars to the benefit of the Chinese, or whoever else is getting fat and rich off of forever wars.

Some are saying this is the move that guarantees Trump's position next to James Buchanan in idiotic moves.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 16, 2026 06:46 PM (rbvCR)

10 abort

Posted by: gKWVE at July 16, 2026 06:46 PM (gKWVE)

11
Uh-oh, a dud. Something triggered a last second hold.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at July 16, 2026 06:46 PM (w6EFb)

12 Wow. Aborted after engine ignition.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at July 16, 2026 06:46 PM (ExV1e)

13 Pickaxe mountain facility. Trump sort of mentioned that. That thing is going to be hit.

Posted by: runner at July 16, 2026 06:46 PM (GD0B3)

14
Scrub. Abort.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at July 16, 2026 06:46 PM (w6EFb)

15
Maybe for the super unhinged we should try to convince them that it's really not worth remaining alive in a world that produced Donald Trump ....

Posted by: Axeman at July 16, 2026 06:47 PM (Fi81e)

16 This is great. Looking at our Iran operations, it is clear that Trump told the planners to prioritize force protection and you can see that in the results. I've said it before, but NO ONE thought we could destroy Iran's air defenses with as few losses as we took. Incredible work.

And since then, we've continued to use stand-off tactics whenever we can. One of the downsides is that we have a more limited target selection, and often can't hit certain things when we want to. However, war is all about tradeoffs, and it is clear that Trump prioritizes the safety of our troops above everything else.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 16, 2026 06:47 PM (ZOv7s)

17 Aborted at startup. Awww.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at July 16, 2026 06:47 PM (kpS4V)

18 How many embassy guards will be stationed in Baghdad?

Posted by: Goatweed at July 16, 2026 06:47 PM (jK3NL)

19 Wow, abort at startup.

Posted by: WisRich at July 16, 2026 06:48 PM (mMoRd)

20 i guess conor macgregor was running this test

Posted by: gKWVE at July 16, 2026 06:48 PM (gKWVE)

21 >>Trump's long-promised campaign to take out the bridges has begun:

We've got them right where we want them now, Boys!
-Iran

Posted by: garrett at July 16, 2026 06:48 PM (uzmqU)

22 I’m in favor of leaving Iraq, I don’t know what the purpose of keeping small numbers of troops there is. Seems like they’re targets more than anything.

Posted by: Tom Servo at July 16, 2026 06:48 PM (wLnmp)

23 Some are saying this is the move that guarantees Trump's position next to James Buchanan in idiotic moves.
Posted by: Kindltot at July 16, 2026 06:46 PM (rbvCR)

Trump could simultaneously cure cancer, solve the unsolved questions in math, and determine the sound of one hand clapping all while spinning 250 plates on sticks and SOME would still say that he's an idiot poopyhead.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at July 16, 2026 06:49 PM (ExV1e)

24 Abort, abort, abort!

Posted by: pawn at July 16, 2026 06:49 PM (R8m8a)

25 Trump's long-promised campaign to take out the bridges has begun
---
But The Fabulous Baker Boys is one of my favorite movies!

Posted by: Axeman at July 16, 2026 06:49 PM (Fi81e)

26 Some are saying this is the move that guarantees Trump's position next to James Buchanan in idiotic moves.
Posted by: Kindltot at July 16, 2026 06:46 PM (rbvCR)
=====

It's past time to remove US forces from Iraq. They're sitting ducks if things escalate even more. Besides, they might be useful in the theater.

Posted by: mrp at July 16, 2026 06:50 PM (rj6Yv)

27 Some are saying this is the move that guarantees Trump's position next to James Buchanan in idiotic moves.
Posted by: Kindltot at July 16, 2026 06:46 PM (rbvCR)
---
Those tiny garrisons are nothing but hostage bait and should have been pulled out in his first term. They are there to justify Forever War deployments. They serve no other purpose. Watch all the Forever War DEI flag officer/weapons contractors flip out.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 16, 2026 06:50 PM (ZOv7s)

28 >>>Is this good? I don't know.

Some are saying that this move is to make sure, should the US have a President Slotkin or worse in 2028, there will be no forward bases to gin up further Middle East wars to the benefit of the Chinese, or whoever else is getting fat and rich off of forever wars.

Some are saying this is the move that guarantees Trump's position next to James Buchanan in idiotic moves.
Posted by: Kindltot at July 16, 2026 06:46 PM (rbvCR)

Both are kind of silly. If we need troops in Kurdistan they can fly right up there again and reoccupy the base. While Prez Slotkin might be an idiot the Trans General they pick to lead could handle that operation.

Trump orienting the entire region to think about their own national economies and interests instead of Islamic juju thought will probably make the neocon forever wars much harder to start.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 16, 2026 06:50 PM (uhVAy)

29 Abort, abort, abort!

Posted by: pawn at July 16, 2026 06:49 PM (R8m8a)
---
Margaret Sanger, is that you?

Posted by: Axeman at July 16, 2026 06:50 PM (Fi81e)

30 The first nation to take advantage of no US troops in Iraq will be Turkey. Erdogan will go after Kurds in the area. Erdogan wants to rebuild the Ottoman Empire and us out of the way is a big help

Posted by: Smell the Glove at July 16, 2026 06:50 PM (OXYE0)

31 One of the things we wanted to come out with was a channel on the Iranian side for reducing conflict, which we did. They were like, ‘OK, fine, we’ll send somebody from the IRGC to go hang out in Doha with somebody from CENTCOM,’ and that’s how we’re going to settle a lot of these disputes.

Posted by: Vantz Kant Dantz at July 16, 2026 06:50 PM (T8IDo)

32 Yes, it is a good idea. American troops are targets, and even with Trump's intelligent rules of engagement, that is too big a temptation for too many islamists and others. If we need to send troops, we can send them quickly.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at July 16, 2026 06:51 PM (p1bWh)

33 India Today: Iran has warned that any US attack on its infrastructure will trigger retaliatory strikes on infrastructure across the region. Khatim Al-Anbiya Headquarters spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari issued the warning amid escalating tensions, raising fresh concerns over regional security.

Do you really think Americans care if one middle eastern country is shooting missiles at another middle eastern country?

Ever really look at a map? The size of Iran is massive. It’s going to be a task to “cripple” that country.

Isreal is loving this rhetoric! Get them puppet Americans to fight their holy war! We dumb Americans have a Congress bought and paid for while our congress votes to keep fleecing our tax dollars to the Zionist regime!

So, according to Iran, US may have thought that strikes could go unanswered? Donald's arrogance has no limit. Right now he's fucking around...

Those in the US Military need to stand up against illegal orders from these tyrants, and the traitors in the administration by continuing this illegal war. We support each and every one of you, and our nation is depending on you.

Posted by: Intercepted Reddit Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at July 16, 2026 06:51 PM (5/BQI)

34 The first nation to take advantage of no US troops in Iraq will be Turkey. Erdogan will go after Kurds in the area. Erdogan wants to rebuild the Ottoman Empire and us out of the way is a big help
Posted by: Smell the Glove at July 16, 2026 06:50 PM (OXYE0)

Call me callous but that sounds like a THEM problem.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at July 16, 2026 06:51 PM (ExV1e)

35 OT - WTH????

New York Post
@nypost
Lefty actress Cynthia Nixon appointed to panel that screens, recommends NY judges
https://trib.al/QIDqJN1

Posted by: beckster at July 16, 2026 06:51 PM (kX27y)

36 >>Trump orienting the entire region to think about their own national economies and interests instead of Islamic juju thought will probably make the neocon forever wars much harder to start.

Not to mention the display of American willingness to actually kill terrorists.

This is Trump saying that he trusts them to Police their own...right after he showed them what happens when they disappoint Dad.

Posted by: garrett at July 16, 2026 06:52 PM (uzmqU)

37 Posted by: Smell the Glove at July 16, 2026 06:50 PM (OXYE0)

We don't need troops in Iraq to protect the kurds. We need political will to protect the kurds.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at July 16, 2026 06:52 PM (p1bWh)

38 The first nation to take advantage of no US troops in Iraq will be Turkey. Erdogan will go after Kurds in the area. Erdogan wants to rebuild the Ottoman Empire and us out of the way is a big help
Posted by: Smell the Glove at July 16, 2026 06:50 PM (OXYE0)

Erdogan is happy with his bite of Syria he has, he doesn't need to mess with Iraq if they don't start blowing stuff up in his area.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 16, 2026 06:52 PM (uhVAy)

39 And since then, we've continued to use stand-off tactics whenever we can. One of the downsides is that we have a more limited target selection, and often can't hit certain things when we want to. However, war is all about tradeoffs, and it is clear that Trump prioritizes the safety of our troops above everything else.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 16, 2026 06:47 PM (ZOv7s)

Agreed - protecting our people is an area where we’ve had stellar performance. I still remember the sad spectacle of captured pilots being paraded for the cameras during the war with Saddam.

Posted by: Tom Servo at July 16, 2026 06:53 PM (wLnmp)

40 30 The first nation to take advantage of no US troops in Iraq will be Turkey. Erdogan will go after Kurds in the area. Erdogan wants to rebuild the Ottoman Empire and us out of the way is a big help
Posted by: Smell the Glove at July 16, 2026 06:50 PM (OXYE0)

Right now the Kurds in Iraq at least one group anyway, are not our friends

Posted by: It's me donna at July 16, 2026 06:53 PM (FtULh)

41 Trump could simultaneously cure cancer, solve the unsolved questions in math, and determine the sound of one hand clapping all while spinning 250 plates on sticks and SOME would still say that he's an idiot poopyhead.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at July 16, 2026 06:49 PM (ExV1e)
======

Not to mention the deluge of articles starting with headlines like "The Hidden Wisdom of James Buchanan" and "James Buchanan: One of Our Greatest Presidents?"

Posted by: mrp at July 16, 2026 06:53 PM (rj6Yv)

42 Get your kicks on Route 76.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at July 16, 2026 06:54 PM (Cqx++)

43 SpaceX is inheriting NASAs bad luck with the Big Thirteen.

Posted by: pawn at July 16, 2026 06:54 PM (R8m8a)

44
Well, nothing blew up. Didn't pull a Bezos tonight.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at July 16, 2026 06:56 PM (w6EFb)

45 The second planning priority I see with regards to Iran is being able to sustain the operational tempo. The cease fires are not for Iran, nor are they for diplomacy, they are designed to give US forces time to rest, do maintenance, resupply and identify new targets.

What this does is keep the force rested and that restores morale. We can rotate people in and out without any difficult. A huge factor in suicide rates GWOT was deployment burnout. The generals thought nothing about deploying people until they killed themselves (assuming they survived the self-defeating ROE).

Iran is a tough nut to crack, but Trump's planners have got this thing to a nice simmer and as alternative oil routes come into play (and Iran's remaining weapons are used up), we basically win by default.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 16, 2026 06:56 PM (ZOv7s)

46 Trump wans to stay in Our Hemisphere.. he's done with Europe and would like to be done with the rest of the Middle East

Posted by: It's me donna at July 16, 2026 06:56 PM (FtULh)

47 @34+37, don't get me wrong , I want us out. The kurds can handle themselves. One of the problems with the Kurds is if they become independent a good number want a commie government . They'd be fighting each other quickly.
The Turks are going to stick their noses in both Syria and Iraq. The Israelis may not be happy about them being in Syria , but welcome to the Middle East.

Posted by: Smell the Glove at July 16, 2026 06:56 PM (OXYE0)

48
I agree with the decision to abort.

Posted by: Planned Parenthood at July 16, 2026 06:56 PM (OkYzo)

49 Apollo 13 was awesome though. Everyone lived, the engineering on the program leapt forward, no disaster like that happened again.
Compare the flying pig that was the Shuttle.

Posted by: gKWVE at July 16, 2026 06:58 PM (gKWVE)

50 So to Reddit assholes: Trump Always Chickens Out until there's no stopping this maniac!

Got it.

Posted by: Axeman at July 16, 2026 06:59 PM (Fi81e)

51
Trump should offer other nations that want to get rid of old munitions to fire it at Iran. Use their nations as a munitions dump/testing range.

Posted by: Frank Barone at July 16, 2026 06:59 PM (OkYzo)

52 Didn't pull a Bezos tonight.
Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at July 16, 2026 06:56 PM (w6EFb)

Word.

Posted by: MacKenzie Scott at July 16, 2026 06:59 PM (gKWVE)

53 Posted by: Axeman at July 16, 2026 06:59 PM (Fi81e)

that was yesterday, today is "innocent civilian bridges" ...prpbably

Posted by: runner at July 16, 2026 07:00 PM (GD0B3)

54 Nothing has been leaked from tonight's speech... Either there is nothing new or there's a whole bunch of whoop ass and they kept it quiet

Posted by: It's me donna at July 16, 2026 07:00 PM (FtULh)

55 don't get me wrong , I want us out. The kurds can handle themselves. One of the problems with the Kurds is if they become independent a good number want a commie government . They'd be fighting each other quickly.
The Turks are going to stick their noses in both Syria and Iraq. The Israelis may not be happy about them being in Syria , but welcome to the East.
Posted by: Smell the Glove at July 16, 2026 06:56 PM (OXYE0)
---
The frontiers in that part of the world are written in pencil. No reason for the United States to waste blood and treasure enforcing them.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 16, 2026 07:01 PM (ZOv7s)

56 I like that pic of the Reddit reunion. It looked like a trip to the circus.

Fucking freaks.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at July 16, 2026 07:01 PM (9NN0K)

57 Weird story: the judge who freed the Cuban hijacker has died . He was a Clinton appointment and was a senior judge at 77. Senior judges should be abolished, they want to get into heaven , so they make "nice" rulings

Posted by: Smell the Glove at July 16, 2026 07:02 PM (OXYE0)

58 Something called Shiraz was destroyed? The AWFLs will be confused and outraged.

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at July 16, 2026 07:02 PM (VscIk)

59 Umm, I hope we take our equipment this time with us

Posted by: Skip at July 16, 2026 07:02 PM (Ia/+0)

60 What time is President Trump speech?

Posted by: Skip at July 16, 2026 07:03 PM (Ia/+0)

61 2100 hrs

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at July 16, 2026 07:04 PM (9NN0K)

62 34 The first nation to take advantage of no US troops in Iraq will be Turkey. Erdogan will go after Kurds in the area. Erdogan wants to rebuild the Ottoman Empire and us out of the way is a big help
Posted by: Smell the Glove at July 16, 2026 06:50 PM (OXYE0)

Call me callous but that sounds like a THEM problem.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic

The Kurds are very destabilizing for the region. They are very much like the ethnic Albanians- they view their nation as where their ethnic people live, and want to unite then in a Greater Kurdistan. Of course, that area encompasses multiple already existing countries...

If we leave, and Turkey starts invading Kurdish-controlled Iraqi land, Iraq and the Kurds may push back pretty hard. Would be hilarious to see Turkey invoke NATO Article 5 to fight against Iraq...

Posted by: Military Moron at July 16, 2026 07:04 PM (5/BQI)

63 >>Is this good? I don't know.

Man, all these years of bullshit and Ace is still optimistic assuming it *might* be good.

The better formulation is "is this *bad*? I don't know.

Posted by: bob (moron inbobnitus) at July 16, 2026 07:04 PM (dj+UN)

64 "Not to mention the deluge of articles starting with headlines like "The Hidden Wisdom of James Buchanan" and "James Buchanan: One of Our Greatest Presidents?""

Don't talk smack about Jimmy B.

No States ever seceded on HIS watch.

Posted by: purely an academic question at July 16, 2026 07:04 PM (F/35S)

65 I suspect the Kurds ripping us off may have just had some detrimental consequences for them.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at July 16, 2026 07:04 PM (BI5O2)

66 Im waiting to be whelmed

Posted by: LASue at July 16, 2026 07:04 PM (lCppi)

67 41 Trump could simultaneously cure cancer...
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at July 16, 2026 06:49 PM (ExV1e)

__________________________

Trump is contributing to over-population!!!!!

Posted by: Orson at July 16, 2026 07:05 PM (dIske)

68 66 Im waiting to be whelmed
Posted by: LASue at July 16, 2026 07:04 PM (lCppi)

Maybe if you built a big coracle . . .

Posted by: gKWVE at July 16, 2026 07:05 PM (gKWVE)

69
Right now the Kurds in Iraq at least one group anyway, are not our friends
Posted by: It's me donna at July 16, 2026 06:53 PM (FtULh)

I’ve seen the Kurds described as more like 14 groups who all want to kill each other. Probably why the idea of building some large scale fighting force out of them never works.

Posted by: Tom Servo at July 16, 2026 07:07 PM (wLnmp)

70 60 What time is President Trump speech?
Posted by: Skip at July 16, 2026 07:03 PM (Ia/+0)

9 ET I believe

Posted by: It's me donna at July 16, 2026 07:07 PM (FtULh)

71 46 Trump wans to stay in Our Hemisphere.. he's done with Europe and would like to be done with the rest of the Middle East
Posted by: It's me donna

He's been awfully involved in the Middle East, both terms, for someone trying to get out. His first term, I think he was hoping to negotiate some kind of Israeli/Palestinian peace deal to have a shot at the Nobel. Now...I think he has no fucks left to give, and like Michael Corleone, he wants to settle all the family business while he has the chance.

Posted by: Military Moron at July 16, 2026 07:07 PM (5/BQI)

72 Don't talk smack about Jimmy B.

No States ever seceded on HIS watch.
Posted by: purely an academic question
________

Only seven of them.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at July 16, 2026 07:08 PM (XvL8K)

73 49 Apollo 13 was awesome though. Everyone lived, the engineering on the program leapt forward, no disaster like that happened again.
Compare the flying pig that was the Shuttle.
Posted by: gKWVE at July 16, 2026 06:58 PM (gKWVE)
How did we ever pull that Apollo 13 one without muslims and women in charge?

Posted by: Eromero at July 16, 2026 07:08 PM (LHPAg)

74 Im waiting to be whelmed
Posted by: LASue at July 16, 2026 07:04 PM (lCppi)
---
To be whelmed is to be capsized. "Over" actually plays an emphatic/redundant role in the more common word.

Posted by: Axeman at July 16, 2026 07:08 PM (Fi81e)

75 "Not to mention the deluge of articles starting with headlines like "The Hidden Wisdom of James Buchanan" and "James Buchanan: One of Our Greatest Presidents?""

Don't talk smack about Jimmy B.

No States ever seceded on HIS watch.
Posted by: purely an academic question at July 16, 2026 07:04 PM (F/35S)
====

Seven states seceded before Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861.

Posted by: mrp at July 16, 2026 07:08 PM (rj6Yv)

76 Last two days been up since 2am, get to sleep in a bit but doesn't mean I can

Posted by: Skip at July 16, 2026 07:08 PM (Ia/+0)

77 Anyone know what Cuber is up to?

Posted by: Pudinhead at July 16, 2026 07:09 PM (uItPR)

78 Posted by: purely an academic question at July 16, 2026 07:04 PM (F/35S)

Consider retaking your HIST class, bro

Posted by: gKWVE at July 16, 2026 07:10 PM (gKWVE)

79 Right now the Kurds in Iraq at least one group anyway, are not our friends"

Not a single one is our "friend". It's up to us to remember that.

Posted by: man at July 16, 2026 07:10 PM (XuXeR)

80
Those tiny garrisons are nothing but hostage bait and should have been pulled out in his first term. They are there to justify Forever War deployments. They serve no other purpose. Watch all the Forever War DEI flag officer/weapons contractors flip out.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 16, 2026 06:50 PM (ZOv7s)

That hostage-bait shit has been one of the most important features of post-Vietnam US military strategy. In the mid-80s, the Reagan-era DoD came up with the brilliant idea of the Infantry Division (Light), which I was lucky enough to experience first hand. *eye roll* Start with a regular infantry division, and take away all of their vehicles and a big chunk of their heavy weapons so that you can transport the whole division in 500 cargo aircraft sorties.

We used to darkly joke that our main function was to be airlifted into some foreign land so that we could die in a loud, orderly military manner so that in 6 months, a couple of armored divisions could be transported in theater to avenge our deaths.

There's a reason that the Infantry Division (Light) doesn't exist in the Army any more.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at July 16, 2026 07:11 PM (y9nCu)

81
65 I suspect the Kurds ripping us off may have just had some detrimental consequences for them.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at July 16, 2026 07:04 PM (BI5O2)

I still don’t believe that story, mainly because only an idiot could have thought that would work. And I hope our people making decisions like that aren’t complete idiots.

More likely I think - we were talking about doing something using the Kurds, and Erdogan got wind of it and promised to raise hell if we tried it. So we backed off, abandoned any idea of staging an insurrection, and came up with a cover story blaming the Kurds in order to make Erdogan happy.

Posted by: Tom Servo at July 16, 2026 07:11 PM (wLnmp)

82 Obligatory: If Turkey invaded Kurdistan's rear, would Greece be involved?

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 16, 2026 07:11 PM (ZOv7s)

83 Anyone know what Cuber is up to?"

Libre?

/nice and chilled

Posted by: man at July 16, 2026 07:12 PM (XuXeR)

84 IIRC the Kurdish YPG trained a bunch of Western antifa who then went home.

Posted by: gKWVE at July 16, 2026 07:12 PM (gKWVE)

85 Gol durn it. Trying to read Ace in Wyoming screws up my sense of time! When does the ONT start?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 16, 2026 07:12 PM (N6gUB)

86 When does the ONT start?"

Right after the train leaves Pittsburgh.

Posted by: man at July 16, 2026 07:13 PM (XuXeR)

87 10pm, AoSHq time

Posted by: Skip at July 16, 2026 07:14 PM (Ia/+0)

88 82 Obligatory: If Turkey invaded Kurdistan's rear, would Greece be involved?
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd

I'm THERE, man!

Posted by: Muhammed and the men of Al-Zutt at July 16, 2026 07:14 PM (5/BQI)

89 There's a reason that the Infantry Division (Light) doesn't exist in the Army any more.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at July 16, 2026 07:11 PM (y9nCu)
__

Ummm...25th Infantry (L) still exists.

Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at July 16, 2026 07:14 PM (/0H7F)

90 57 Senior judges should be abolished, they want to get into heaven , so they make "nice" rulings

we need angsty teenage judges that want to piss everyone off

Posted by: anachronda at July 16, 2026 07:14 PM (v3pYe)

91 More likely I think - we were talking about doing something using the Kurds, and Erdogan got wind of it and promised to raise hell if we tried it.

I don't see Trump backing down from a plan he wants to execute because Erdogan is unhappy about it. What possible leverage would he have?

Posted by: Moron Analyst at July 16, 2026 07:15 PM (5/BQI)

92 we need angsty teenage judges that want to piss everyone off
Posted by: anachronda at July 16, 2026 07:14 PM (v3pYe)

Or GenXers
But I'm just repeating what you said

Posted by: gKWVE at July 16, 2026 07:16 PM (gKWVE)

93 First Lady Graham passes away and the first thing that happens is we pull out of Iraq and end a forever war

Coincidence?

Posted by: The Unvaxxed and Unmasked Ranger - Now With Extra Fapness at July 16, 2026 07:16 PM (fapp/)

94 Huh.

25th lost the 'light' designation in 2006.

Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at July 16, 2026 07:17 PM (/0H7F)

95 I’ll Tempered Cur, the Army is debating whether heavy armor will be useful going forward. They are currently focusing on maneuverability and owning the micro grid. Basically, light infantry with robots.

Posted by: Pudinhead at July 16, 2026 07:17 PM (uItPR)

96 There's a reason that the Infantry Division (Light) doesn't exist in the Army any more.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at July 16, 2026 07:11 PM (y9nCu)
__

Ummm...25th Infantry (L) still exists.
Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at July 16, 2026 07:14 PM

The 10th Mountain says hi.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at July 16, 2026 07:17 PM (Wnv9h)

97 Ummm...25th Infantry (L) still exists.
Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at July 16, 2026 07:14 PM (/0H7F)
It had to be Light Infantry so Hawaii won't capsize.

Posted by: Eromero at July 16, 2026 07:17 PM (LHPAg)

98 66 Im waiting to be whelmed
Posted by: LASue at July 16, 2026 07:04 PM (lCppi)

Maybe if you built a big coracle . . .
Posted by: gKWVE at July 16, 2026 07:05 PM (gKWVE)

Making a coracle: a surprising sub genre of YT videos. I always learn from the horde.

Posted by: LASue at July 16, 2026 07:18 PM (lCppi)

99 lol Eromero.

Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at July 16, 2026 07:18 PM (/0H7F)

100 93 First Lady Graham passes away and the first thing that happens is we pull out of Iraq and end a forever war

Coincidence?
Posted by: The Unvaxxed and Unmasked Ranger

Meh. We've been bombing Iran since February. Good enough for us.

Posted by: Zombies McCain and Graham at July 16, 2026 07:18 PM (5/BQI)

101 What, 70 YO Judges don't piss us off enough?

Posted by: Skip at July 16, 2026 07:18 PM (Ia/+0)

102 I don't see Trump backing down from a plan he wants to execute because Erdogan is unhappy about it. What possible leverage would he have?
Posted by: Moron Analyst at July 16, 2026 07:15 PM (5/BQI)
**************************

Erdogan is our great ally, and we need to be sensitive to his needs, such as keeping the Islamic Republic of Iran intact.

Posted by: Vantz Kant Dantz at July 16, 2026 07:18 PM (T8IDo)

103 When does the ONT start?"

Right after the train leaves Pittsburgh.
Posted by: man at July 16, 2026 07:13 PM

That's a fargin' trick question!!!!

Posted by: Roman Moroni at July 16, 2026 07:19 PM (Wnv9h)

104 Apropos of nothing, a recent "Rob Words" video I saw on Youtube, told me that we used to spell our "wh" words "hw"

Hwen, hwere, hwo, hwy. But Flemish typesetters from the mainland saw all the English "th", "ch", "sh" words and thought surely it must be "wh".

Think about it, there's almost no way to aspirate a vowel at the tail of the w sound.

Posted by: Axeman at July 16, 2026 07:20 PM (Fi81e)

105 LASue: there was a theory that Noah's ark was a coracle some years back. Irving Finkel

Posted by: gKWVE at July 16, 2026 07:20 PM (gKWVE)

106 "Not to mention the deluge of articles starting with headlines like "The Hidden Wisdom of James Buchanan" and "James Buchanan: One of Our Greatest Presidents?""

Don't talk smack about Jimmy B.

No States ever seceded on HIS watch.
Posted by: purely an academic question at July 16, 2026 07:04 PM (F/35S)
====

Seven states seceded before Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861.
Posted by: mrp at July 16, 2026 07:08 PM (rj6Yv)

He was so bad even the Democrats of the time made him replace his entire Cabinet with Northerners, including Stanton, later Lincolns second Secretary of War.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 16, 2026 07:20 PM (uhVAy)

107 When does the ONT start?"

Right after the train leaves Pittsburgh.
Posted by: man at July 16, 2026 07:13 PM (XuXeR)

87 10pm, AoSHq time
Posted by: Skip at July 16, 2026 07:14 PM (Ia/+0)

So, if it leaves Pittsburgh at 10 traveling 100mph, what time is it in Rawlins?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 16, 2026 07:20 PM (N6gUB)

108 NASA did sort of tempt superstition with Apollo 13

The Lunar Module that saved their ass, was number 7, fwiw.

Posted by: Common Tater at July 16, 2026 07:22 PM (wBcdF)

109
Right now the Kurds in Iraq at least one group anyway, are not our friends"

Not a single one is our "friend". It's up to us to remember that.
Posted by: man at July 16, 2026 07:10 PM (XuXeR)

Maxim 29: The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. No more. No less.

I get the feeling that the Golden Scalp Weasel based his foreign policy on the Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries, specifically the following:

Maxim 12. A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head.

Maxim 13. Do unto others.

Maxim 16. Your name is in the mouth of others: be sure it has teeth.

Maxim 58. The pen is mightiest when it writes orders for more swords.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at July 16, 2026 07:22 PM (y9nCu)

110 I’ll Tempered Cur, the Army is debating whether heavy armor will be useful going forward. They are currently focusing on maneuverability and owning the micro grid. Basically, light infantry with robots.
Posted by: Pudinhead at July 16, 2026 07:17 PM (uItPR)

There are a lot of places a middle sized tank would be useful and a lot easier to run. Not everything is apocalyptic tank battles in West Germany.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 16, 2026 07:23 PM (uhVAy)

111 it is clear that Trump prioritizes the safety of our troops above everything else.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 16, 2026 06:47 PM (ZOv7s)

Agreed - protecting our people is an area where we’ve had stellar performance. I still remember the sad spectacle of captured pilots being paraded for the cameras during the war with Saddam.
Posted by: Tom Servo at July 16, 2026 06:53 PM (wLnmp)

I'm sure the Iranians had that in mind when they sent everyone who could run after that one pilot that was downed the last time around.

I wonder if we have plans to use that against them in the future.

Posted by: Methos at July 16, 2026 07:23 PM (vSvIl)

112 I wonder if we have plans to use that against them in the future.
Posted by: Methos at July 16, 2026 07:23 PM (vSvIl)

I assume someone has to volunteer to be the bait.
Joy Behar?

Posted by: gKWVE at July 16, 2026 07:24 PM (gKWVE)

113 There's a reason that the Infantry Division (Light) doesn't exist in the Army any more.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at July 16, 2026 07:11 PM (y9nCu)

I was in Reforger -72. Imaging a Armor Brigade flying to Germany from Ft.Hood and drawing all materials, including weapons, in time to stop a Soviet Block invasion.

The mother of all fuckups,

Posted by: javems at July 16, 2026 07:24 PM (zFsEm)

114 I wore the Electric Strawberry for a time. Hawaii is an interesting place.

Face sized spiders. More like lobsters, really

Posted by: Common Tater at July 16, 2026 07:25 PM (wBcdF)

115 So, if it leaves Pittsburgh at 10 traveling 100mph, what time is it in Rawlins?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 16, 2026 07:20 PM (N6gUB)

More importantly, of all the places to go in Wyoming, you chose Rawlins?

*I'm sure you have good reason, but I couldn't help asking

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at July 16, 2026 07:26 PM (zYpTz)

116 Hopefully pulled out of Iraq but not put into Iran

Posted by: nckate at July 16, 2026 07:27 PM (enNUy)

117 Surprised really anyone is in Iran

Posted by: Skip at July 16, 2026 07:28 PM (Ia/+0)

118 https://tinyurl.com/2s3uyxvm

Iconic photo of Margaret Hamilton next to the print out of the Apollo guidance computer code.

She's hot in nerdy geek girl kinda way.

Posted by: Publius on Stupid Phone at July 16, 2026 07:28 PM (iKvf9)

119
Not to mention the deluge of articles starting with headlines like "The Hidden Wisdom of James Buchanan" and "James Buchanan: One of Our Greatest Presidents?"
Posted by: mrp at July 16, 2026 06:53 PM (rj6Yv)

Our First Gay President!!

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at July 16, 2026 07:28 PM (O0L8i)

120 There's a reason that the Infantry Division (Light) doesn't exist in the Army any more.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at July 16, 2026 07:11 PM (y9nCu)

I was in Reforger -72. Imaging a Armor Brigade flying to Germany from Ft.Hood and drawing all materials, including weapons, in time to stop a Soviet Block invasion.

The mother of all fuckups,
Posted by: javems at July 16, 2026 07:24 PM (zFsEm)

I was a kid and reading wargame magazines and playing them, but even then I could not believe that Reforger was going to work in any scenario.

There's a story from Russia that a bit earlier they redesigned the greatcoats to have fancy buttons on them in addition to the hook fasteners. But the troops told them that for every alert, they would have to cut the buttons off so they could squirm in the dirt to fight, then if it was just a practice alert sew all the buttons on again. The 5 minute window for 'go' time was too short.

So down from the brass came orders that the time to be ready after the alert to move out was changed to 30 minutes.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 16, 2026 07:29 PM (uhVAy)

121 Out of trad networks, seems ABC and NBC are not airing Trump's speech. I guess CBS is.

Posted by: runner at July 16, 2026 07:30 PM (GD0B3)

122 She's hot in nerdy geek girl kinda way.
Posted by: Publius on Stupid Phone

Ahhh......

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at July 16, 2026 07:30 PM (9NN0K)

123
I still don’t believe that story, mainly because only an idiot could have thought that would work. And I hope our people making decisions like that aren’t complete idiots.

More likely I think - we were talking about doing something using the Kurds, and Erdogan got wind of it and promised to raise hell if we tried it. So we backed off, abandoned any idea of staging an insurrection, and came up with a cover story blaming the Kurds in order to make Erdogan happy.
Posted by: Tom Servo at July 16, 2026 07:11 PM (wLnmp)

My own theory is that Trump told CIA "start a Persian insurrection and ship them guns". And the Ivy League thumbsuckers at CIA decided to route the weapons through the Kurds because the Great Unwashed can't be trusted with guns without strict supervision.

But your idea makes sense too, so I'm open to the possibility that this is what went down.

The CIA is still largely populated by Ivy League pansies though.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at July 16, 2026 07:30 PM (y9nCu)

124 95 I’ll Tempered Cur, the Army is debating whether heavy armor will be useful going forward. They are currently focusing on maneuverability and owning the micro grid. Basically, light infantry with robots.
Posted by: Pudinhead

I've seen light infantry companies equipped with several MUTTs to help haul their gear: https://tinyurl.com/3x8uk39t

And the new Infantry Squad Vehicle: https://tinyurl.com/y9b8fd6z

Remember in the opening days of Iraqi Freedom, and the casualties from troops in unarmored Humvees, and Rumsfeld saying you go to war with the Army you have. There's not much armor on that ISV...

Posted by: Military Moron at July 16, 2026 07:31 PM (5/BQI)

125 With the bridges out they're going to have to find another way around. And the may want to bring a shitload of dimes too

Posted by: 496 at July 16, 2026 07:31 PM (sOtuf)

126 *I'm sure you have good reason, but I couldn't help asking
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at July 16, 2026 07:26 PM (zYpTz)

Half way point.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 16, 2026 07:31 PM (N6gUB)

127 If we leave, and Turkey starts invading Kurdish-controlled Iraqi land, Iraq and the Kurds may push back pretty hard. Would be hilarious to see Turkey invoke NATO Article 5 to fight against Iraq...
Posted by: Military Moron

Articled V does not apply to any NATO member invading somewhere else. US did not invoke Article V when we hit Iran either time.

Posted by: whig at July 16, 2026 07:31 PM (E4rtv)

128 nood

cafe

Posted by: banana Dream - YEAH BUDDY! at July 16, 2026 07:32 PM (3uBP9)

129 Old cat, currently the M-1 MBT can be destroyed by a cheap drone. A smaller tank doesn’t solve the problem. Owning and growing your own microgrid on the battlefield will be the answer. Hell, drones will likely replace artillery

Posted by: Pudinhead at July 16, 2026 07:32 PM (uItPR)

130 Half way point.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 16, 2026 07:31 PM (N6gUB)

*Whew. So, you're not there to break your brother from prison or some such. Good.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at July 16, 2026 07:33 PM (zYpTz)

131 Between Gibraltar and the Kyber Pass, there is nothing worth the bones of a single Pomeranian Grenadier.

Posted by: Going deep. Out. at July 16, 2026 07:33 PM (x69Nb)

132 So, if it leaves Pittsburgh at 10 traveling 100mph, what time is it in Rawlins?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 16, 2026 07:20 PM (N6gUB)

More importantly, of all the places to go in Wyoming, you chose Rawlins?

*I'm sure you have good reason, but I couldn't help asking
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at July 16, 2026 07:26 PM (zYpTz)

Its pretty much the only place to stop that isn't all the way across (or just inside) of Wyoming. When I trucked a test instrument in a truck to Livermore Labs in Berkely back in the day we hit Rawlins on the way out. We got caught in Utah when blizzards closed the interstate on the way back.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 16, 2026 07:33 PM (uhVAy)

133 Erdogan is our great ally, and we need to be sensitive to his needs, such as keeping the Islamic Republic of Iran intact.
Posted by: Vantz Kant Dantz
======
Kurds are not really our allies either, they, like in timeless fashion just know we don't have territorial gains in mind or exterminating Kurds on the menu unlike Syrians, Turks, Iranians, Shia, and Sunni in Iraq.

When you are a hegemon, you have no friends or allies, only supplicants and enemies. And the supplicants try to use the hegemon against their enemies.

Posted by: whig at July 16, 2026 07:35 PM (E4rtv)

134 Speak softly and carry a big stick.

Posted by: PG at July 16, 2026 07:36 PM (5tjvu)

135 Dash, if you're still reading, it doesn't seem to be that bad. Besides, we're right near the police station.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 16, 2026 07:37 PM (cmuen)

136 125 With the bridges out they're going to have to find another way around. And the may want to bring a shitload of dimes too
Posted by: 496

Aimed at drying up their missile and drone component supply line. If Iran concentrates them to avoid shipping, then they are a saturation bombing target, if they disperse them, they have to haul them around including rail and roads with bridges.

Also makes it difficult to move troops around if a revolt starts in the periphery. Remember native Persians are a minority in the Gulf oil field areas, Arabs are the majority.

Posted by: whig at July 16, 2026 07:37 PM (E4rtv)

137
I wore the Electric Strawberry for a time. Hawaii is an interesting place.

Face sized spiders. More like lobsters, really
Posted by: Common Tater at July 16, 2026 07:25 PM (wBcdF)

Centipedes the size of a pre-teen boy's arm. Cane spiders with the attitude of meth-addicted MMA fighters. Rats the size of raccoons. Gray-green geckos EVERYWHERE.

The mongoose imported to control the illegal alien rat population are cool, except that they realized that it was a lot easier to hunt the native birds than the giant frickin' wharf rats that jumped off of cargo ships in Honolulu harbor.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at July 16, 2026 07:42 PM (y9nCu)

138 We should take the troops we're pulling out of Iraq and send them into Canada to make firebreaks and logging roads.

This smoke is incredible.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 16, 2026 07:43 PM (ZOv7s)

139 Old cat, currently the M-1 MBT can be destroyed by a cheap drone. A smaller tank doesn’t solve the problem. Owning and growing your own microgrid on the battlefield will be the answer. Hell, drones will likely replace artillery
Posted by: Pudinhead at July 16, 2026 07:32 PM (uItPR)

Nah, nothing beats a big ass shell impacting at a zillion mph to ruin your day. Artillery will always be there. For bunkers if nothing else.

In Ukraine a lot of tanks now have mesh netting and cheap structure to keep the drone from doing a lot of damage when crashing into it. Seems to be helping. Drones are light, and pretty slow moving - spaced armor and such can help a lot against slower warheads.

A smaller tank just means you can work when the bridges can't hold heavy tanks and you aren't likely to run into other MBTs.

A tactic the Russians seem to be using now is to scamper up a road for a mile or so to a village, bail out the infantry and dig in, and have the APCs head back empty and just abandon the motorbikes/4 wheel scooters. They can then dig in before drones can react and start securing the new salient in the front. Then day by day they widen into a bulge and open up supplies.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 16, 2026 07:44 PM (uhVAy)

140 "That hostage-bait shit has been one of the most important features of post-Vietnam US military strategy. In the mid-80s, the Reagan-era DoD came up with the brilliant idea of the Infantry Division (Light), which I was lucky enough to experience first hand. *eye roll* Start with a regular infantry division, and take away all of their vehicles and a big chunk of their heavy weapons so that you can transport the whole division in 500 cargo aircraft sorties.

"We used to darkly joke that our main function was to be airlifted into some foreign land so that we could die in a loud, orderly military manner so that in 6 months, a couple of armored divisions could be transported in theater to avenge our deaths.

"There's a reason that the Infantry Division (Light) doesn't exist in the Army any more."

Not a vet, but was this during the Rumsfeld era, when it was thought a light military bolstered with technology could "occupy" and pacify Iraq, while sending its troops home? Result: the country had a huge supply of military-aged unemployed men, and fanatical militias. That era? Makes sense.

Posted by: Fritz at July 16, 2026 08:04 PM (J7jo9)

141 Trump has become Ghengis Khan and now killing children of color in Iran !!!!!!!!!!

I am calling on senator Schunmer to begin impeachments hearings to stop this atrocity on the peaceful people of Iran

Posted by: Hillary at July 16, 2026 08:15 PM (d6FdJ)

142 If the South left during Buchanan, would Buchanan have invaded the South?

The 1860 election, a vote on a war.

Posted by: Goatweed at July 16, 2026 08:40 PM (jK3NL)

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