Iraq Demands "Very Clear" U.S. Troop Withdrawal Timeline

[Bronco_Beerslug]

"Iraqi officials have said they would like to see all U.S. combat troops out by October 2010."

Good, the sooner the better!!!

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Iraq demands "very clear" U.S. troop timeline

By Mohammed Abbas Sun Aug 10

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States must provide a "very clear timeline" to withdraw its troops from Iraq as part of an agreement allowing them to stay beyond this year, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Sunday.



Demonstrators display a poster of anti-U.S. cleric Moqtada al-Sadr during a protest march after Friday prayers in Baghdad's Sadr City, June 27, 2008.
(Mohammed Ameen/Reuters)

It was the strongest public assertion yet that Iraq is demanding a timeline. U.S. President George W. Bush has long resisted setting a firm schedule for pulling troops out of Iraq, although last month the White House began speaking of a general "time horizon" and "aspirational goals" to withdraw.

Iraq's leaders have become more confident of their ability to provide security as the country has become safer. But attacks which killed at least 15 people on Sunday, including a U.S. soldier, were a reminder it is still a violent place.

In an interview with Reuters, Zebari said the agreement, including the timeline, was "very close" and would probably be presented to the Iraqi parliament in early September.

Asked if Iraq would accept a document that did not include dates for a withdrawal, Zebari said: "No, no. Definitely there has to be a very clear timeline."

"The talks are still ongoing. There's been a great deal of progress. The deal is very close. It is about to be closed," Zebari said of the agreement, which will replace a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing the U.S. presence, which expires at the end of this year.

A sticking point in the negotiations is Washington's wish that its troops be immune from Iraqi law. In July, Iraq's deputy speaker of parliament told Reuters lawmakers would likely veto any deal if this condition were granted.

Other hurdles include the power of the U.S. military to detain Iraqi citizens, and their authority to conduct military operations, Zebari said.

"Our negotiators have really found compromises on all these issues."

ASSERTIVE STANCE

He would not be drawn on the precise dates that Iraqi negotiators are seeking for withdrawal, saying the document was not yet final. Iraqi officials have said they would like to see all U.S. combat troops out by October 2010.

An agreement that included that date would require the Bush administration effectively to accept a timeline almost identical to the one proposed by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who opposed the 2003 invasion.

CONT.

[DenverBrit]

Originally Posted by Bronco_Beerslug

"Iraqi officials have said they would like to see all U.S. combat troops out by October 2010."

Good, the sooner the better!!!

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Iraq demands "very clear" U.S. troop timeline


Absolutely!

[Spider]

Are the Iraqis saying we have worn out our welcome ?

[The Lone Bolt]

Weren't we supposed to be installing a puppet government in Iraq so we could keep our troops there forever and control their oil? I'm confused.

[Rigs11]

Originally Posted by The Lone Bolt

Weren't we supposed to be installing a puppet government in Iraq so we could keep our troops there forever and control their oil? I'm confused.

That was bush and mcsame's plan until Obama called for a 16 month withdrawal. mcsame went apeshet over it but then agreed after Maliki and bush agreed with obama's plan.Obama, he ain't even president yet and he has done more to establish an exit strategy than bush did in 5 years.

[kappys]

Originally Posted by The Lone Bolt

Weren't we supposed to be installing a puppet government in Iraq so we could keep our troops there forever and control their oil? I'm confused.

oops, looks like we accidentally spread some democracy

[gunns]

Looks like the puppets are trying to cut the strings.

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by Rigs11

That was bush and mcsame's plan until Obama called for a 16 month withdrawal. mcsame went apeshet over it but then agreed after Maliki and bush agreed with obama's plan.Obama, he ain't even president yet and he has done more to establish an exit strategy than bush did in 5 years.

We've been drawing down troops for a couple of months now.

[The Lone Bolt]

Originally Posted by Rigs11

That was bush and mcsame's plan until Obama called for a 16 month withdrawal. mcsame went apeshet over it but then agreed after Maliki and bush agreed with obama's plan.Obama, he ain't even president yet and he has done more to establish an exit strategy than bush did in 5 years.

But if that was "bush and mcsame's plan" then why didn't they install the puppet gov't when they had the chance? Why did they allow an independent and democratic gov't to take power if it was "all about oil?"

[Bob]

Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr -- would really like to know....

[Rigs11]

Originally Posted by The Lone Bolt

But if that was "bush and mcsame's plan" then why didn't they install the puppet gov't when they had the chance? Why did they allow an independent and democratic gov't to take power if it was "all about oil?"

It is a puppet government, just wait until US troops are gone. Maliki is not going to last.

http://www.scps.nyu.edu/about-scps/n...scenarios.html

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by The Lone Bolt

But if that was "bush and mcsame's plan" then why didn't they install the puppet gov't when they had the chance? Why did they allow an independent and democratic gov't to take power if it was "all about oil?"

Let's see how long your "independent and democratic goverment" stays "independent and democratic" after we are out of the picture.

[Rigs11]

If you don't believe it was for oil your stupidity is astounding.

http://www.iraqoilreport.com/2008/07...oil-contracts/

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by Rigs11

If you don't believe it was for oil your stupidity is astounding.

http://www.iraqoilreport.com/2008/07...oil-contracts/

his stupidity is astounding regardless. He still believes in his feeble mind that Bush has not lied to the American public.

[The Lone Bolt]

Originally Posted by Rigs11

It is a puppet government, just wait until US troops are gone. Maliki is not going to last.

http://www.scps.nyu.edu/about-scps/n...scenarios.html

How are we going to install a puppet gov't after our troops are out?

And why didn't they install a puppet gov't in the first place? Why did they allow the current Iraqi gov't to take control (which is now pressing for a US troop withdrawal)? You still haven't explained that.

And what if you're wrong and a stable democracy prevails in Iraq, the one that we installed and is currently asking for a timetable for withdrawal? How does that fit in with the "all about oil" theory?

You are predicting that the Maliki gov't will collapse and will be replaced with a US puppet gov't. OK. Here's my prediction:

All of the "Afghan pipeline" theorists have been bending over backwards to explain the lack of a pipeline all of these years later (and yet still insist that if you don't believe it was all about oil/natural gas in Afghanistan your stupidity is also "astounding").

I see something similar happening in a few years with Iraq: there will be no evidence that we stole any oil, we will not have installed a gov't that guaranteed any special oil deals for US oil companies, and we will not have left any troops behind to "control" the oil.

And just like with the Afghan pipeline theorists, the "all about oil" Iraq war theorists will be bending over backwards inventing excuses.

[The Lone Bolt]

Originally Posted by TailgateNut

his stupidity is astounding regardless. He still believes in his feeble mind that Bush has not lied to the American public.

Is that what I believe? You sure about that?

How about providing a link to any such statements I made.

[Rigs11]

Originally Posted by The Lone Bolt

How are we going to install a puppet gov't after our troops are out?

And why didn't they install a puppet gov't in the first place? Why did they allow the current Iraqi gov't to take control (which is now pressing for a US troop withdrawal)? You still haven't explained that.

And what if you're wrong and a stable democracy prevails in Iraq, the one that we installed and is currently asking for a timetable for withdrawal? How does that fit in with the "all about oil" theory?

You are predicting that the Maliki gov't will collapse and will be replaced with a US puppet gov't. OK. Here's my prediction:

All of the "Afghan pipeline" theorists have been bending over backwards to explain the lack of a pipeline all of these years later (and yet still insist that if you don't believe it was all about oil/natural gas in Afghanistan your stupidity is also "astounding").

I see something similar happening in a few years with Iraq: there will be no evidence that we stole any oil, we will not have installed a gov't that guaranteed any special oil deals for US oil companies, and we will not have left any troops behind to "control" the oil.

And just like with the Afghan pipeline theorists, the "all about oil" Iraq war theorists will be bending over backwards inventing excuses.

No genius, the puppet government is already installed.Once we leave that government is going down.

As for the oil I posted this already but it looks like I'll have to again.

http://www.iraqoilreport.com/2008/07...oil-contracts/

[The Lone Bolt]

Originally Posted by Rigs11

No genius, the puppet government is already installed.Once we leave that government is going down.

As for the oil I posted this already but it looks like I'll have to again.

http://www.iraqoilreport.com/2008/07...oil-contracts/

Why would a puppet gov't insist that we set a timetable for withdrawal, especially if there is a chance they will lose power as a result?

Wouldn't we have ordered our "puppets" to accept a permanent US presence no matter what Uncle Mookie wants?

If they're our "puppets" how do you explain that international observers declared the elections free and fair?

If they're our "puppets" why does the international community universally recognize the Maliki gov't as legitimate? Even the Arab nations who hate us (and Iran) recognize the Maliki gov't. Can you explain that? Shouldn't they be screaming "puppets" and refuse to recognize the Maliki gov't?

What evidence do you have that the Iraqi elections were rigged?

BTW, your link is dead.

[Rigs11]

Originally Posted by The Lone Bolt

Why would a puppet gov't insist that we set a timetable for withdrawal, especially if there is a chance they will lose power as a result?

Wouldn't we have ordered our "puppets" to accept a permanent US presence no matter what Uncle Mookie wants?

If they're our "puppets" how do you explain that international observers declared the elections free and fair?

If they're our "puppets" why does the international community universally recognize the Maliki gov't as legitimate? Even the Arab nations who hate us (and Iran) recognize the Maliki gov't. Can you explain that? Shouldn't they be screaming "puppets" and refuse to recognize the Maliki gov't?

What evidence do you have that the Iraqi elections were rigged?

BTW, your link is dead.

the inability of the iraq government to outlaw or prosecute Blackwater "employees" is one example of puppet government.they must abide by US rules as per the Coalition Provisional Authority.See the link.
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?pid=233815

puppet governments can and do oppose their rulers however. See saddam hussein.

vote rigging:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/30/in...st/30iraq.html

if were gonna play this game,please provide some links that support your views.

[NYBronco]

Looks like we're needed more in Georgia. Time to move on and return in a couple more years to start the search for WMD's again.

[sisterhellfyre]

Originally Posted by NYBronco

Looks like we're needed more in Georgia. Time to move on and return in a couple more years to start the search for WMD's again.

"Not over there. Maybe under here..."

Regards,
m.

[cutthemdown]

The fact Iraqis are strong enough to say get the hell out is a sure sign we won. What a great job our troops did over there the last yr or so. I say bring them home and let's have a party.

[The Lone Bolt]

Originally Posted by Rigs11

the inability of the iraq government to outlaw or prosecute Blackwater "employees" is one example of puppet government.they must abide by US rules as per the Coalition Provisional Authority.See the link.
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?pid=233815

Blackwater's license to operate in Iraq was revoked by the Iraqi Government on September 17, 2007

On September 23, 2007, the Iraqi government said that it expects to refer criminal charges to its courts in connection with a shooting involving Blackwater guards.[79] However, on October 29, 2007, immunity from prosecution was granted by The U.S. State Department, delaying a criminal inquiry into the September 16 shootings of 17 Iraqi civilians.[80] Immediately afterwards, the Iraqi government approved a draft law to end any and all immunity for foreign military contractors in Iraq, to overturn Order 17. The U.S. Department of Justice also said any immunity deals offered to Blackwater employees were invalid, as the department that issued them had no authority to do so.[81]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwater_USA

Yes, the CPA was TEMPORARILY in charge in Iraq, but the CURRENT GOV'T reversed Blackwater's immunity as above.

Once again, is this the act of a "puppet" gov't?

puppet governments can and do oppose their rulers however. See saddam hussein.

Do puppet governments routinely tell their "masters" to get the hell out and take all of their troops with them?

You have some bizzare ideas of what constitutes a "puppet" gov't.

vote rigging:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/30/in...st/30iraq.html

if were gonna play this game,please provide some links that support your views.

So because there were some initial claims by disgruntled Sunnis (who were unhappy that they were no longer the unquestioned rulers of Iraq) that were untimately unsupported, this proves fraud? You also have some very low standards of proof.

From your own article:

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 29 - An international elections monitoring group that gave a preliminary endorsement to Iraq's parliamentary vote two weeks ago has agreed to send observers back into Iraq to investigate allegations by Sunni Arab and secular Shiite parties that widespread vote-rigging tainted the results.

The International Mission for Iraqi Elections, a Jordan-based monitor, said it would dispatch two investigators from the League of Arab States and one from Canada and one from a European nation. The group previously said that based on early indications, the Dec. 15 election appeared to have "generally met international standards."

The IMIEs results of that investigation:

The team did not receive definitive evidence of . . . significant shortcomings in the conduct of the elections

http://www.imie.ca/pdf/team_report.pdf

Once again, where's your proof that the election which brought the current Iraqi gov't to power was fraudulent?

And you still haven't explained why even Iran recognizes the Iraqi gov't., as well as the entire international community.

So you are suggesting that you are smarter than all the world's governments combined? That you can see that the current gov't in Iraq is a "puppet" because you're so much more clever than they are?



Is that your final answer?

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

The fact Iraqis are strong enough to say get the hell out is a sure sign we won. What a great job our troops did over there the last yr or so. I say bring them home and let's have a party.

You're right. It's nice to know that even if the leadership ****s up so badly they should all be incarcerated, our service people will still pull their nuts out of the fire.

[Hotrod]

Demand away **** heads we will leave when were damn well ready. Then when we chose to leave I hope the new spinless pukes in charge over there get their just deserts for b****ing.