Iraq raises pressure on U.S. for troop withdrawal timeline

Wednesday 09th July, 06:00 AM JST

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RedMeatKoolAid at 01:21 PM JST - 9th July

"The deal outlined Tuesday, however, appears to set an outer limit, requiring U.S. forces to fully withdraw five years after the Iraqis take the lead on security nationwide."

Hate to break it to some here but if you'd bother to read the above and engage brain before posting you'd realize Dubya will be long out of office by the time any withdrawal takes place; posts about Bush propping up defense contractors must then be consigned to the same cyber ash heap where went all the hyperventilating and paranoid fantasies of these last 7 years, the always-imminent coup by "BushCo".

That the Iraqi gov't can propose this phased withdrawal strikes me as proof that the US has achieved victory. Add Iraq to the long, long list of countries that the US has freed from tyranny of one sort or another. And it looks like someone may have stolen Obama's thunder.

Bush and McCain vindicated.

Egg on the faces of Obama, Reid, Pelosi and a purple finger in the eye of each and every anti-liberation loser out there.
rjd_jr at 01:32 PM JST - 9th July

Ummm, five YEARS after the Iraqis take the lead on security nationwide? Nice attempt at doublespeak, nice sly way of making it seem as if there is a definite timeline. Basically, at the rate these Iraqi's have been going, five years after Iraqis take lead is meaningless, since they are nowhere near close to taking the lead now.

Hardly any reason to celebrate or gloat over. These Iraqis will be ready as soon as you cut loose the strings and let them fight and die for their own country, instead of doing the minimum and letting the Americans fight and die.

It's like that kid who lives with parents even after college and finding a job, because he's so used to it and in a comfort zone. Kick that kid out and make him live on his own, then that kid will do what it takes to make it with determination, hard work, and resourcefulness.

The Iraqi "military" (and politicians) are like this kid. Time to kick them out.
Sarge at 01:37 PM JST - 9th July

Sushi - You've got it backwards - a withdrawal date is just what the terrorists want.
SushiSake3 at 05:03 PM JST - 9th July

Sarge, no I haven't.

You are the one who has it backwards.

That's why you don't even know you are supporting terrorism, which is just hilarious :-)
Madverts at 07:47 PM JST - 9th July

Sarge,

A withdrawl date is what the Iraqi people want.

But what the hell do they know.

Some crazy terrorist-hugger was actually calling for a referendum! Ha! Do they think they are in some sort of democracy or what?
Betzee at 09:13 PM JST - 9th July

Ummm, five YEARS after the Iraqis take the lead on security nationwide? Nice attempt at doublespeak, nice sly way of making it seem as if there is a definite timeline. Basically, at the rate these Iraqi's have been going, five years after Iraqis take lead is meaningless, since they are nowhere near close to taking the lead now.

Indeed. It's simply something Maliki needs before the provincial elections to undercut the popularity of folks like al-Sadr whose backers support a complete withdrawal.

The no-bid reconstruction contracts are already a thing of the past. Congress has mandated an arrangement similar to that used in Vietnam where the host government receives loans or grants to pay for the work. This gives them ownership and an incentive to oversee viable projects. Horrendous sums were wasted on the no-bid contracts which offered little value for money.
Madverts at 09:27 PM JST - 9th July

"Horrendous sums were wasted on the no-bid contracts which offered little value for money."

Yeah, but who absorbed all the tax-dollars?
Betzee at 09:34 PM JST - 9th July

Yeah, but who absorbed all the tax-dollars?

Deep pockets.

The contracts were written in such a way that the more you spent the more you could make. There was no incentive to control costs which of course went up as security detoriated. Few are even functioning today. The Iraqis didn't know how to run them and simply had no stake in their success.
Betzee at 10:00 PM JST - 9th July

Maliki is in a bit of a bind on this. It's doubtful he could have been appointed PM without the backing of al-Sadr. Plus there's been an incident in his hometown which risks making him look like a patsy:

Maliki is Janaja's most famous son, but he's been conspicuously silent in the aftermath of an apparent covert coalition raid Friday morning -- finally acknowledged Sunday by the U.S. military -- that killed one of his relatives and terrified the villagers, many of whom share the premier's tribal last name and belong to his Dawa Party. Other senior Iraqi officials have not kept mum: They've demanded an investigation and say the incident could affect negotiations for a long-term U.S.-Iraqi security pact....

The U.S. military broke its silence on the incident Sunday, releasing a vague statement confirming that coalition forces had shot and killed "a local security guard" during operations early Friday that targeted special groups, a reference to suspected Iranian-backed militant cells.

The statement, which did not mention the military branch or even the nationality of the force that conducted the raid, said the guard "exited a building in close proximity to coalition forces while brandishing an AK-47 held against his shoulder as if to fire. Perceiving hostile intent and acting in self defense, coalition forces shot and killed the armed man." Only later did the forces realize he was a local security guard.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/42641.html
sailwind at 10:25 PM JST - 9th July

Somebody wake me up after 'Bush Bad' on this thread.

Be nice to hear what we should do now.......hey Betzee leave now is a good idea dont'cha think, then you can blame Bush after the surge is working.
Sarge at 10:40 PM JST - 9th July

Sushi - You are the one who has it backwards. That's why you don't even know you're supporting terrorism, which is hilarious.

Madverts - What the Iraqi people want is to live in peace and not under a dictator like they had, or extremists like they will if we leave now.

Hey, no "uh"? Amazing...your manners have improved! I hope this holds for awhile.
Betzee at 11:03 PM JST - 9th July

leave now is a good idea dont'cha think,

How much say should the Iraqis have in this matter of stay or go? According to McCain, it doesn't matter what Maliki says cuz he's "just a politician."
sailwind at 11:10 PM JST - 9th July

Interesting, I asked, "Be nice to hear what we should do now"

I get...

How much say should the Iraqis have in this matter of stay or go? According to McCain, it doesn't matter what Maliki says cuz he's "just a politician."

A McCain bash.
Betzee at 11:18 PM JST - 9th July

Not, it's pointing out the problem of claiming to represent the interests of the Iraqi people without listening to them.
adaydream at 02:05 AM JST - 10th July

Now you know that there will be more talks about this withdrawl date.

Will Halliburton get to state their case for more war?

How about Blackwater?

We can't allow these war machines just grind to a stop.

I mean, this will just hurt dick cheney booksales, also.

How I Upped Halliburton's Income and Up Yours < :-)