Isn't that 'precious?'

Photo: Joseph Sywenkyj for The New York Times

Yesterday marked the official withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraqi cities in towns. While this does not reduce the 130,000 or so American occupation forces within Iraq itself, it does mean American occupation forces are moving out of urban areas into bases which in most cases surround the cities.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said "Definitely this is a significant day, and it is the first practical implementation of the agreement on the withdrawal of troops signed by the Iraqi government. No one has to play down the importance of this day or the importance of the withdrawal. This is the first step that will help pave the way for a full withdrawal of the American and foreign forces from Iraq."

Naturally Iraqis were elated to see American soldiers leaving their cities after more than six years of occupation, but the country is still occupied with Obama planning to leave up to 50,000 American troops in "training and advisory roles" in Iraq after the "complete withdrawal" by the end of August 2011.

To see Iraqi police cars and soldiers festooned with pink carnations and red roses marking the withdrawal of the Americans is not surprising.

To watch the war-weary Iraqis waving flags, flying balloons and waving their arms in jubilation is to be expected.

To witness the offering of celebratory sweets and raised weapons firing skyward in elation is also nothing unusual.

Iraqis have suffered as very few of us (Americans) can ever imagine, and so they are obviously happy to see the Americans go, even if it is just a few miles out of sight.

Photo: AFP/Khalil al-Murshidi

But what is surprising (though I know it shouldn't be) is to listen to Barack Obama characterize the U.S. "pull back" as a positive reflection on America's occupation of Iraq.

Hailing the event as an "important milestone," Obama said Tuesday:

"The fact that Iraqis are celebrating this day is a testament to the courage and capability and commitment of every single American who has served in Iraq."

Uh, not exactly. I'd say it's more like this: "The fact that Iraqis are celebrating this day is a testament to how happy the Iraqis are that American soldiers are finally getting out of their cities after six years of bloody occupation."

I'm not sure how Iraqis celebrating that the American military is finally backing off is a reflection of American "courage, capability and commitment," but then again, Obama is the Commander in Chief. This is the kind of thing he is expected to say (though I laughed when I heard it).

Unfortunately, Mr. Obama went on to make the very patronizing and insulting statement:

"Our troops have overcome every obstacle to extend this precious opportunity to the Iraqi people."

Oh have they? How kind of the occupying military forces to overcome all those obstacles (car bombings, shootings, and other acts of resistance to their very presence) to "extend this precious opportunity."

Not sure what that "precious opportunity " might be. The opportunity to be partially free of an occupying army in their cities? The opportunity to regain a modicum of dignity and sense of self-rule?

Oh thank you dear occupiers for granting us this precious gift! Oh, for without you, where would we be?

Interesting logic. Of course, what do I know? After all, I am not Iraqi, I am not an American soldier, and I am probably not what most people would call a patriot, but it does strike me as funny how, based on lies and fabrications, we (America) can go into a country that did not threaten or attack us, invade, bomb, destroy, brutalize, and occupy them, causing immeasurable damage in our attempt to turn that country into what we think it should be, and then when we are able to somehow slink away and try to disentangle ourselves from the mess we have created, paint our departure as emblematic of having done our involuntary hosts (i.e. the occupied country) a big favor.

Next time I run into an Iraqi, I will ask them if they see the occupation as a "precious opportunity." Tell, me if it were Iraqi (or any other foreign) occupation forces leaving your city after six years of occupation, would you be thanking them for the precious opportunity?