The "legal framework" authorizing this war of choice ends today.
The troops started heading home 'for the last time' just a few weeks ago, however ...
U.S. formally declares end of Iraq War
by Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY -- 12/15/2011
[...]
Nearly 4,500 U.S. service members were killed in more than eight years of war and about 30,000 wounded. Tens of thousands of Iraqis died, troops and civilians, as the U.S. deposed Saddam's regime and beat down an insurgency backed by al-Qaeda terrorists and sectarian revenge killings that threatened to destroy the country.
[...]
About 4,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, down from as many as 170,000 in the height of the violence in 2007. All troops are to be out by Dec. 31.
Also according to stats presented on the Chris Hayes show today, somewhere between 104,000 and 114,000 Iraqis died in this conflict, too.
As always, the untallied costs of warfare, is once again far, far too high.
Tens of thousands of Vets are returning home, to an Economy that welcomes them with widespread Unemployment.
What is a Vet to do? What is an Employer?
President Obama Signs Veterans Tax Credit Bill
By James Dao -- NYTimes.com -- November 21, 2011
The “VOW to Hire Heroes Act” will provide tax credits of up to $2,400 for employers who hire veterans who have been unemployed at least 4 weeks; up to $5,600 for hiring veterans who have been unemployed longer than 6 months; and up to $9,600 for businesses that hire veterans who have service-connected disabilities and have been unemployed longer than 6 months.
Other online tools to help Vets in their search for jobs.
Tens of thousands of Vets have been returning home,
to streets that do not have an IED -- buried around every corner.
That do not harbor danger in slamming of every car door.
What is a Vet to do? What is their family?
Vets win PTSD settlement
by Steve Vogel, WashingtonPost.com -- 07/29/2011
[...]
A class action settlement announced Friday between the federal government and a group of disabled veterans will award lifetime health-care benefits to more than 1,000 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who were discharged from the service because of post-traumatic stress disorder.
[...]
“It’s getting your dignity back,” said one of the plaintiffs, Air Force veteran Aimee Sherrod, who served three deployments in Iraq and Pakistan from 2001 to 2005 and was subsequently given a diagnosis of PTSD. “It’s a huge relief”.
Getting help with PTSD
Welcome home Vets, thank you for your service.
Your country's been hoping and waiting for you, to make it back.
"Wars are Politics carrying out by 'other means'," according to General Joe Sestak, a guest on the show today. He goes on to explain "Militaries can stop a problem, but they cannot 'fix' a problem."
That is the job of Diplomats and State departments and community outreach, and community reconstruction ...
Those are followup jobs that the US failed miserably on delivering in this over-extended Iraq Military action ...
What was lost ... What was gained?
What were the lessons learned?
Will Americans ever even stop to ask? ... Chris Hayes and his diverse panel of guests did just that today -- take the time ...
just a few clicks away ...
Chris Hayes: Today is the last day of the 'Status of Force Agreement,' the legal framework under which US Troops were permitted to operate in Iraq. [...]
Up with Chris Hayes -- On the Iraq War -- Part I
Dec 31, 2011
Link to Video
Up with Chris Hayes -- On the Iraq War -- Part II
Dec 31, 2011
Link to Video
As always, the tallied costs and the untallied costs of warfare are far, far too high.
One question far too often goes unanswered too: Why we do we keep paying these costs?
With far, far too much precious blood and treasure?