Time to GO! Iraq Wants Withdrawal Timetable In U.S. Pact

[babylonsister]

Iraq Wants Withdrawal Timetable In U.S. Pact

By Ernesto Londoño and Dan Eggen
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, July 9, 2008; Page A08



BAGHDAD, July 8 -- Iraq's national security adviser said Tuesday that his government would not sign an agreement governing the future role of U.S. troops in Iraq unless it includes a timetable for their withdrawal.

The statement was the strongest demand yet by a senior Iraqi official for the two governments to set specific dates for the departure of U.S. forces. Speaking to reporters in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, National Security Adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie said his government was "impatiently waiting" for the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops.

"There should not be any permanent bases in Iraq unless these bases are under Iraqi control," Rubaie said, referring to negotiations over a bilateral agreement governing the future U.S. military role in Iraq. The agreement, if approved, would go into effect when a U.N. mandate expires in December.

"We would not accept any memorandum of understanding with {the U.S.} side that has no obvious and specific dates for the foreign troops' withdrawal from Iraq," Rubaie said.

U.S. officials said the remarks, along with a similar statement Monday from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, were aimed at local and regional audiences and do not reflect fundamental disagreements with the Bush administration. :eyes:

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/08/AR2008070801311.html

[spanone]

1. the bu$h* cabal will run this war on their timetable....

the lying bastard told us we would get out when the iraqis want us out...

[rfranklin]

2. They are dreaming! Bush was just kidding when he...

said we would leave if asked to do so. I can't remember for sure but I'll bet when he said it there was some sort of modifier like "if we think the Iraqis are ready."

[babylonsister]

3. In 2007, Bush promised Iraq withdrawal if asked by Maliki: ‘I don’t see how we could stay.’»

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/08/in-2007-bush-promised-iraq-withdrawal-if-asked-by-maliki-%e2%80%98i-don%e2%80%99t-see-how-we-could-stay%e2%80%99/

In 2007, Bush promised Iraq withdrawal if asked by Maliki: ‘I don’t see how we could stay.’»

Yesterday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said he would like to set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. Today, however, the Bush administration rejected the timetable. In an April 24, 2007 interview with Charlie Rose, however, President said he would remove troops if asked by Iraq, but he predicted that Maliki would not ask for a withdrawal:

ROSE: But if he said get out now, we don’t want you anymore–

BUSH: I don’t see how we could stay. It is his country.

ROSE: But if he said that, it would lead to the catastrophe that you have suggested.

BUSH: That’s why he’s not going to say it.

ROSE: You don’t think he’ll say it?

BUSH: I don’t. No, I don’t.

“{W}e’re looking at conditions, not calendars here,” State Department spokeperson Gonzalo Gallegos said today.

[sourmilk]

4. Just remember - Iraq goes to the polls in October.

If there is not a war in Iran declared previously.

McThuselah stands to lose everything on this one issue if the Iraqis have an election. He can tout the fact that "Democracy is blossoming" in Iraq, but if every candidate is screaming for US to get out, against permanent bases or long term leases, against PSAs and the Balkanisation of a sovereign Iraq, how does he look?

If there is a war with Iran, the election will be suspended. Iran will, of course, be blamed. National Security, Force Deployment and War Resolutions will either paralyse Congress (and make Dems look weak) or vulcanise Congress (and make Dems comlicit). There will HAVE to be elections in the USa in November, but a nation on a War Footing tilts the table towards McThuselah.

Pardon my incredible pessimism, but I believe that War with Iran is inevitable from the US position and War is the linchpin in the 2008 Repiglicon General Election strategy - Permanent War.


"Forward!" They cried / From the rear
And the front rank died.<[/b>

::Pink Floyd - "Us and Them"