Iraq PM: Country can manage without U.S...well alrighty then.

[autorank]

And the people of Iraq have wanted us out for a while. Glad this guy is finally getting the big democracy lesson * provided.

Iraq PM: Country can manage without U.S.

7/14/2007, 11:20 p.m. CDT

By BASSEM MROUE
The Associated Press

BAGHDAD (AP) — Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki shrugged off U.S. doubts of his government's military and political progress on Saturday, saying Iraqi forces are capable and American troops can leave "any time they want."

Snip

But he said if necessary, Iraqi police and soldiers could fill the void left by the departure of coalition forces.

"We say in full confidence that we are able, God willing, to take the responsibility completely in running the security file if the international forces withdraw at any time they want," he said.

One of al-Maliki's close advisers, Shiite lawmaker Hassan al-Suneid, bristled over the American pressure, telling The Associated Press that "the situation looks as if it is an experiment in an American laboratory (judging) whether we succeed or fail."