U.S. and Iraq Agree to Goals for Troop Cuts

[jefferson_dem]

Source: NYT

U.S. and Iraq Agree to Goals for Troop Cuts
By STEVEN LEE MYERS and GRAHAM BOWLEY
Published: July 19, 2008

The United States and Iraq have agreed to set a “general time horizon” for the “further reduction of U.S. combat forces in Iraq” following the improvement in security conditions in the country, the White House said Friday.

The breakthrough, which was reached between President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki in discussions via video link on Thursday, could lead to the successful completion of a long-term security agreement covering American operations in Iraq — from combat missions to detaining Iraqis — by the end of this month, a White House official said.

"We’re converging on an agreement," the official said, referring to ongoing negotiations between Iraq and the United States on the deal.

The long-term agreement had been held up by differences over issues like the extent of Iraqi control over American military operations, the right of American soldiers to detain suspects without the approval of Iraqi authorities and Iraqi demands for a timetable for withdrawal.

But in a statement, the White House said Mr. Bush and Mr. Maliki had agreed “that improving conditions should allow for the agreements now under negotiation to include a general time horizon for meeting aspirational goals — such as the resumption of Iraqi security control in their cities and provinces and the further reduction of U.S. combat forces from Iraq.”

The White House offered no specific dates for troop cuts, but the inclusion of even just a reference to a time horizon is a significant concession by the Bush administration, which has long resisted setting a timetable for cuts in combat forces. It is a tacit admission that the United States’ military presence in Iraq is not endless.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/world/middleeast/19iraq.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

---

Obama Response to U.S., Iraq Troop Cut Goals

“Barack Obama has consistently urged the Bush Administration to negotiate the redeployment of our troops in the context of talks about a Status of Forces Agreement. Today’s announcement represents a step in the right direction, as the Administration has shifted from its opposition to any talks with Iraq about the removal of our combat troops, and specified a change in mission for American forces. Now, instead of vague illusions to a ‘general time horizon,’ it’s time to pressure Iraq’s leaders to reach the political accommodation necessary for long-term stability, and to refocus on strengthening our military and finishing the fight in Afghanistan,” said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

http://thepage.time.com/obama-response-to-us-iraq-troop-cut-goals/

[bemildred]

1. First we had the "peace process"

Now we have the "withdrawal process". I expect that the point is that the "withdrawal process" could take decades just like "peace process", and go nowhere in just the same way, too.

[Arctic Dave]

2. Pull all the military out. We have no right at all to be in that country.

Screw the SOFA, leave now!

We kill hundreds of thousands, displace millions and shit for brains* thinks we should be able to prop our feet up in their country whenever we feel like it. I hope someone sticks a pineapple up *'s ass in downtown Detroit.

[orwell]

3. Once again...

...the Bushies flip-flop and follow President Obama's leadership.

[Tutonic]

4. General Time Horizon? Who in the Hell is writing this garbage?

Is the White House having an employee retention problem? What adult with an IQ of 62 would think up a phrase "General Time Horizon" to describe troop reductions in Iraq? Al Malaki must be having convulsions from laughter. The phrase is so idiotic that they won't even attribute it to a person--they refer to a "White House Official." Yeah I'm gonna venture a guess that it must be Jenna that they're referrin to. She probably told her old man to strap on that cod piece for Mission Accomplished.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Bush, in Shift, Accepts Idea of Iraq Timeline

Source: The NY Times

HOUSTON — President Bush agreed to “a general time horizon” for withdrawing American troops in Iraq, the White House announced Friday, in a concession that reflected both progress in stabilizing Iraq and the depth of political opposition to an open-ended military presence in Iraq and at home.

Mr. Bush, who has long derided timetables for troop withdrawals as dangerous, agreed to at least a notional one as part of the administration’s efforts to negotiate the terms for an American military presence in Iraq after a United Nations mandate expires at the end of the year.

The agreement, announced in coordinated statements released Friday by the White House and Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki’s government, reflected a significant shift in the war in Iraq. More than five years after the conflict began with the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, the American military presence now depends significantly, if not completely, on Iraqi acquiescence.

The White House offered no specifics about how far off any “time horizon” would be, with officials saying details remained to be negotiated. Any dates cited in an agreement would be cast as goals for handing responsibility to Iraqis, and not specifically for reducing American troops, said a White House spokesman, Gordon D. Johndroe.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/world/middleeast/19iraq.html?hp

---

Wow.

Wow.

Looks like the Iraqis are really kicking us out, even Bush has to accede.

[sakabatou]

6. If the Repukes call us for a flip-flop

We can call them on one.

[gratuitous]

8. It's not a flip-flop, so stop saying that!

The Decider doesn't flip-flop. The Commander Guy doesn't waffle. Mr. Uniter-Not-A-Divider doesn't set arbitrary deadline dates. No how, no way. And just because his position looks a LOT like what Obama has been saying for the last four months, that makes Obama a . . . a . . . uh, he's a pre-emptive copycat! Yeah, that's the ticket.

[sakabatou]

9. Lolz

[BrotherBuzz]

24. Careful, you're bucking for a DUzy, there!

:thumbsup:

[madeline_con]

7. Better Headline: Bush, in desparation to save GOP, will say anything.

[cstanleytech]

20. Bingo!!!

I really doubt that Iraq has improved over pre-2004, if it has I want someone to post the stats proving it please because its pretty damn convenient to suddenly be good enough to pull out just before a major election for the next president and it smells to hell like an attempt to help McCain at the polls.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. The dance will continue up until November.

Then: all bets are off. If (and when) Obama wins then endgame will be interesting.

[tannybogus]

11. Trickery and strategery!

Bush said a "general time horizon."

You never reach the horizon. It just keeps moving on.

[awoke_in_2003]

26. exactly

welcome to DU

[MannyGoldstein]

12. No Recs!!! I Guess Iraq Withdrawal Is Less Important Than...

...THAT HORRIBLE NEW YORKER COVER!!!!!!

[w4rma]

16. Bush is using weasel words. This isn't a change in position. (nt)

[MannyGoldstein]

17. Well At Least The Mods Know An Iraqi Victory When They See It

Thanks for promoting to the front page!

[Warren Stupidity]

29. Nothing has changed.

This is a vague and non-specific allusion to a timeline for reducing US forces within the context of a status of forces agreement that will establish a permanent occupation of Iraq outside of any third party (UN) constraints.

[Tutonic]

13. I'd like to see the WHite House offer a definition of "General Time

Horizon." This is JUST WORDS just like "Shock and Awe" or "Smoke Em Out", or "Weapons of Mass Destruction" or "Keep on Truckin" or "Bound for Glory" or "Pimpin Ain't Easy" or "War What is It Good For" or Know When to Fold Em" or "May the Force be With You" or "Boys will be Boys" or "Some Day Alice....." or.....

[awoke_in_2003]

27. "Pimpin Ain't Easy"

i take exception to that, pimpin really isn't easy :)

[whistle]

14. First there was Tricky Dick Nixon, now it's Shifty Bushy

[Webster Green]

15. E-mail the White House, thanking them for taking Obama's advice..

"I understand it must be difficult to follow the advice of the Democratic candidate. Thanks for the non-partisan decision to follow Obama's lead."

Bet that will piss them off! }(

[beltanefauve]

21. Great idea!

I like how you think!:thumbsup:

[ShockediSay]

25. This, a timeline, no matter how you spin it, and talking w/ Iran,

Bush is cutting McCain off at the knees

Each one worse than the other

[ejbr]

18. Bush is a fuckin' "cut and runner" n/t

[Elidor]

19. How many times does Lucy have to snatch away the football before everyone figures it out?

This is designed to relieve pressure on republicans.

[2Design]

22. withdraw from iraq to send them elsewhere - I call BS n/t

[truthisfreedom]

23. Surrender monkey republican! Cut-and-run republican!

He doesn't want 'murika to win! He wants to lose the war to help mcblame's campaign!

[Hope And Change]

28. K & R!