What!? Why are US troops leaving Iraq?

US armed forces are moving to Kuwait, the Middle Eastern State south of Iraq where Western travelers and businesses prefer to enter from the Persian Gulf.  Based on recent trending news it seemed like the troops would be sent home by the holidays.  Hanukkah starts this coming Tuesday the 20th while Christmas Eve is four days after.  Ramadan does not start until July 20, 2012 - maybe the troops will be "home" by then. Some military personnell are on leave at home with their families in the US, while others continue to work as US assets move across the Iraq border into Kuwait where their presence is welcomed.

On November 9, 2011 the Army Times reported the planned exodus from Iraq, but is the country ready to lead its own military and financial system? http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/11/army-1st-cav-bct-ordered-to-kuwait-110911w/

The Department of Defense employs approximately 3.2million Americans compared to Wal Mart's employment of approximately 2.1million multi-national employees (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walmart).  Movement of DOD employees to Kuwait will positively impact the economy of Kuwait equal to the benefit local US communities receive when troops return home and spend their DOD paychecks.

Kuwait became independent from the United Kingdom in 1961 and they started allowing female citizens to vote in 2005. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ku.html Their malls, roads, condo buildings and office buildings are in line with what a Western traveler expects.  The Kuwait government has evolved since gaining independence 50 years ago, while their neghboring countries have devolved or have remained prisoners in their failing dictator-controlled governments.  Kuwaiti cities are safe and may be acceptable places for US families to live so that parents and spouses can come home to their families each day.

Returning troops to the US could have potential negative impacts on local economies.  Jobs are hard to find in the US and when strong young men and women are added to the labor pool, unemployment may increase by at least one person for every ex-military job seeker.  If troops are returned to the US and remain under the employment of the DOD or US government, costs are higher due to US cost of living.  Is there a way to employ military-trained individuals and keep them housed on US soil?  Or are they more valuable as exported assets that don't compete for US jobs during a down economy?

The US must perpetuate its presence in the Middle East and Asia, but there are also safe ways to accomplish military goals without human presence in hot zones.  Near hot zones on the planet there are often emerging markets where DOD personnell may have impact as business leaders while maintaining military presence.  US entrepreneurism is often led by former military personnell as well as existing part-time and full-time DOD employees.