Troops Leave Iraq

First published by Associated Press

 The last U.S. soldiers rolled out of Iraq across the border into neighboring Kuwait at daybreak in the middle of December, whooping, fist bumping and hugging each other in a burst of joy and relief. Their convoy's exit marked the end of a bitterly divisive war that raged for nearly nine years and left Iraq shattered and struggling to recover.

The war cost nearly 4,500 American and well more than 100,000 Iraqi lives and $800 billion from the U.S. Treasury. The question of whether it was worth it all — or whether the new government the Americans leave behind will remain a steadfast U.S. ally — is yet unanswered.

The 5-hour drive by the last convoy of MRAPS, heavily armored personnel carriers, took place under cover of darkness and under strict secrecy to prevent any final attacks on the withdrawing troops. The 500 soldiers didn't even tell their Iraqi partners they were leaving before they slipped out of the last American base and started down the barren desert highway to the Kuwaiti border before dawn Sunday.

The atmosphere was subdued inside one of the vehicles as it streamed down the highway, with little visible in the blackness outside through the MRAP's small windows. Along the road, a small group of Iraqi soldiers waved to the departing American troops.

But after crossing the berm at the Kuwaiti border, lit with floodlights and ringed with barbed wire, the troops from the 3rd brigade of the Army's 1st Cavalry Division were elated. They cheered, pumped fists in the air and gave each other chest bumps and bear hugs. "We're on top of the world!" shouted one soldier from the turret of his vehicle.  Soldiers were looking forward to seeing their families and not using Satellite Phone Iraq anymore.

The quiet withdrawal was a stark contrast to the high-octane start of the war, which began before dawn on March 20, 2003, with an airstrike in southern Baghdad where Saddam Hussein was believed to be hiding, the opening shot in the famed "shock and awe" bombardment. U.S. and allied ground forces then stormed from Kuwait across the featureless deserts of southern Iraq toward the capital.

Saddam and his regime fell within weeks, and the dictator was captured by the end of the year — to be executed by Iraq's new Shiite rulers in 2006. But Saddam's end only opened the door to years more of conflict as Iraq was plunged into a vicious sectarian war between its Shiite and Sunni communities. The near civil war devastated the country, and its legacy includes thousands of widows and orphans, a people deeply divided along sectarian lines and infrastructure that remains largely in ruins.

In the past two years, violence has dropped dramatically, and Iraqi security forces that U.S. troops struggled for years to train have improved. But the sectarian wounds remain unhealed. Even as U.S. troops were leaving, the main Sunni-backed political bloc announced Sunday it was suspending its participation in parliament to protest the monopoly on government posts by Shiite allies of the Prime Minister.

In the final days, U.S. officials acknowledged the cost in blood and dollars was high, but tried to paint a picture of victory — for both the troops and the Iraqi people now freed of a dictator and on a path to democracy. But gnawing questions remain: Will Iraqis be able to forge their new government amid the still stubborn sectarian clashes? And will Iraq be able to defend itself and remain independent in a region fraught with turmoil and still steeped in insurgent threats?

Some Iraqis celebrated the exit of what they called American occupiers, neither invited nor welcome in a proud country. Others said that while grateful for U.S. help ousting Saddam, the war went on too long. A majority of Americans would agree, according to opinion polls broadcast on Internet Iraq websites.

Iraq's military chiefs believe that troops were up to the task of uprooting militant groups. Sunni militants continue to carry out bombing and shooting against police, soldiers and civilians, and Shiite militias continue to operate.

The U.S. convoys were the last of a massive operation pulling out American forces that has lasted for months to meet the end-of-the-year deadline agreed with the Iraqis during the previous presidential administration.

In the middle of the week, there were two U.S. bases and less than 4,000 U.S. troops in Iraq — a dramatic drop from the roughly 500 military installations and as many as 170,000 troops during the surge in 2007, when violence was at its worst. As of the last night, that was down to one base — Camp Adder — and the final 500 soldiers.

On the last evening at Camp Adder, near Nasiriyah, about 200 miles southeast of Baghdad, the vehicles lined up in an open field to prepare and soldiers went through last-minute equipment checks to make sure radios, weapons and other gear were working.

Early the last morning, the brigade's remaining interpreters made their routine calls to the local tribal sheiks and government leaders that the troops deal with, so that they would assume that it was just a normal day.

The Iraqi soldiers were to wake up in the morning without any knowledge of move.

In a guard tower overlooking a now empty checkpoint at the base soldiers talked about what they looked forward to most in getting home. They planned to go for Mexican food at a restaurant in Killeen, Texas. Another joy of home, she said: you don't have to bring your weapon when you go to the bathroom or go on the Internet in Iraq.

At its height, Camp Adder boasted a Taco Bell, a KFC, an Italian restaurant and two Green Beans coffee shops. On the last night, it felt empty, with abandoned volleyball and basketball courts and a gym called "House of Pain." Hundreds of vehicles — trucks, buses — waited in a lot to be handed over to the Iraqi military, which is taking over the site. With the Americans gone, the base reverts to its former name, Imam Ali Air Base.

Despite the President’s earlier contention that all American troops would be home for Christmas, at least 4,000 forces will remain in Kuwait for some months. The troops could also be used as a quick reaction force if needed.

The U.S. plans to keep a robust diplomatic presence in Iraq, hoping to foster a lasting relationship with the nation and maintain a strong military force in the region. The President met in Washington with the Iraqi Prime Minister last week, vowing to remain committed to Iraq as the two countries struggle to define their new relationship.

U.S. officials were unable to reach an agreement with the Iraqis on legal issues and troop immunity that would have allowed a small training and counterterrorism force to remain. U.S. defense officials said they expect there will be no movement on that issue until sometime next year.

Satellite Operators on Solid Ground
As Originally Posted at The Wall Street Journal

While economic turmoil has laid low industries from construction to automobiles, the world's largest providers of satellite-services such as internet in Iraq appear to be operating in a different orbit, posting strong earnings and rising revenues.

London-based Inmarsat PLC on Thursday reported a 20% jump from a year earlier in fourth-quarter revenue for its core business. Profit excluding taxes rose even more sharply for the year, and the company increased its dividend.

Satellite services are now essential to U.S. military operations, helping to bring satellite phone services in Iraq and satellite internet in Afghanistan.

Inmarsat -- which provides voice, data and Internet services for aviation, maritime and industrial customers -- followed similarly strong results announced recently by larger satellite operators, including Luxembourg's SES Global SA and France's Eutelsat Communications SA. Intelsat Ltd., which has the world's biggest commercial-satellite fleet but also is the most highly leveraged of the big satellite operators, is expected to report robust numbers next Wednesday.

Satellite services generally lag behind broader economic cycles by 18 months or more, reflecting what are typically multiyear, fixed-price contracts used to lease transponders on satellites.

Since satellite access has become essential to such routine corporate activities as credit-card approvals, business VoIP and Internet access on business jets, "other discretionary programs tend to be cut" before moves to limit spending on satellites, Inmarsat Chairman and Chief Executive Andrew Sukawaty said in an interview.

So far, major satellite companies have managed to capitalize on a diversified customer base that increasingly relies on space communications for operations from video distribution for cable- and satellite-television, to a wide range of military communications. Inmarsat derives about 50% of world-wide revenue from government business, including from the Pentagon.

Along with its competitors, Inmarsat expects to enjoy a revenue boost as more U.S. troops are sent into Afghanistan and maneuver around desolate regions that lack ground-based communication networks. Steps taken in India and elsewhere to open markets to more satellite operators are expected to help support growth through at least 2010. "Clearly, there is going to be a positive impact" from such long-sought deregulation, said Andrea Maleter, technical director of consulting firm Futron Corp., based in Bethesda, Md.

Inmarsat's core subscriber revenue climbed to $160.6 million in the fourth quarter versus $133.4 million a year earlier. Broadband services for ships and airliners grew by double-digit percentages.

Mr. Sukawaty said the results indicate the company's offerings "are hitting home with customers even in times of economic uncertainty." The company, which doesn't report quarterly earnings, said full-year profit excluding taxes rose to $193.8 million from $124.7 million in 2007.

Industry consultant Tim Farrar said that despite recent results for leading operators, "there are signs of concern for what happens a year or two down the road."

Some analysts and consultants predict the entire sector could face trouble in coming quarters. If the global recession drags on, analysts predict that operators on both sides of the Atlantic, most of whom are wrapping up costly expansion programs, could get saddled with excess in-orbit capacity. During past economic downturns, satellite operators compensated for such problems by slashing prices and capital spending. Smaller, less well-funded challengers already are hurting and finding it difficult to keep up with their more-established rivals.

Satellite companies could become vulnerable if maritime users scrap or anchor large numbers of cargo ships, or if predictions of satellite capacity needed for growth in high-definition video turn out to be wrong. So far for Inmarsat, however, demand for broadband connections has remained strong, more than outweighing cuts in older-generation services. Broadband demand is expected to grow further as more airlines offer in-flight voice and messaging services.

Inmarsat doesn't have any debt coming due this year, is gaining control of a big distributor and is committed to pay construction costs for only one satellite. Unlike other operators focused on more-mature segments, the company is pushing ahead with new voice and data services for mobile devices and a new generation of satellite phones.

When SES Gobal reported its results for last year, it said the utilization rate for in-orbit capacity jumped to 79%, up 6.6 percentage points from a year earlier. It has nine satellites under construction.

Eutelsat reported a 7.9% revenue gain for its fiscal first half, which ended Dec. 31. Net income jumped 53%.