Iraq raises idea of timetable for US withdrawal

[actsnoblemartin]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080707/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

BAGHDAD - Iraq's prime minister said Monday his country wants some type of timetable for a withdrawal of American troops included in the deal the two countries are negotiating.
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It was the first time that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has explicitly and publicly called for a withdrawal timetable — an idea opposed by President Bush.

[5stringJeff]

Good. If the Iraqis are ready for us to leave, let's leave.

[actsnoblemartin]

fine with me but lets give um the for being such un-grateful fucks, after everything we have done for them

Good. If the Iraqis are ready for us to leave, let's leave.

[5stringJeff]

fine with me but lets give um the for being such un-grateful fucks, after everything we have done for them

It's not being ungrateful to take responsibility to defend your own country. It's what all countries do. It's one of the inherent acts of governing.

[actsnoblemartin]

It's not being ungrateful to take responsibility to defend your own country. It's what all countries do. It's one of the inherent acts of governing.

I want iraq to defend themselves, but do you think iraq can defend itself now, i dont think so, but i await your response

[Noir]

fine with me but lets give um the for being such un-grateful fucks, after everything we have done for them

...So would you rather they were "grateful" and insisted that we stay over their with no timetable for leaving? You just can't please some people.

but do you think iraq can defend itself now, i dont think so

The leader of Iraq thinks otherwise...

[actsnoblemartin]

Fine, but if, (and i hope this doesnt happen) things go bad, he better not call us, because I will say you asked to leave so fuck off.

...So would you rather they were "grateful" and insisted that we stay over their with no timetable for leaving? You just can't please some people.



The leader of Iraq thinks otherwise...

[5stringJeff]

I want iraq to defend themselves, but do you think iraq can defend itself now, i dont think so, but i await your response

It doesn't matter what I think - although I have seen enough in the news to think that the Iraqis are ready to start defending their own country. It matters what the Prime Minister thinks, and he thinks his army is ready.

[actsnoblemartin]

fine, i will respect his wishes, but if he is wrong, and iraqis start slaughtering each other, or iran comes in, i hope we dont do a dam thing, cause its his fucking problem not ours

It doesn't matter what I think - although I have seen enough in the news to think that the Iraqis are ready to start defending their own country. It matters what the Prime Minister thinks, and he thinks his army is ready.

[5stringJeff]

fine, i will respect his wishes, but if he is wrong, and iraqis start slaughtering each other, or iran comes in, i hope we dont do a dam thing, cause its his fucking problem not ours

I'm pretty sure he realizes that.

[Noir]

Fine, but if, (and i hope this doesnt happen) things go bad, he better not call us, because I will say you asked to leave so fuck off.

Well as far as i am aware the US still want to have 50 bases in Iraq, so he won't have to ask ya'll already be there.

[Gaffer]

If a time table is to be established then the iraqi's need to do it.

We are not going to have 50 bases in iraq, we will have two or three with some small support points near by. These will be capable of expanding in case we have to take on iran.

[mundame]

There is no reason in the world that we should care if Iraqis kill each other!!

I mean, hey, we kill them constantly ----- so why should we mind if they kill each other?

[Noir]

We are not going to have 50 bases in iraq, we will have two or three with some small support points near by. These will be capable of expanding in case we have to take on iran.

Not what i've been readin, from the Independent

Bush wants 50 military bases, control of Iraqi airspace and legal immunity for all American soldiers and contractors
By Patrick Cockburn
Thursday, 5 June 2008

A secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November.

The terms of the impending deal, details of which have been leaked to The Independent, are likely to have an explosive political effect in Iraq. Iraqi officials fear that the accord, under which US troops would occupy permanent bases, conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and enjoy immunity from Iraqi law, will destabilise Iraq's position in the Middle East and lay the basis for unending conflict in their country.

Under the terms of the new treaty, the Americans would retain the long-term use of more than 50 bases in Iraq. American negotiators are also demanding immunity from Iraqi law for US troops and contractors, and a free hand to carry out arrests and conduct military activities in Iraq without consulting the Baghdad government.

The US is adamantly against the new security agreement being put to a referendum in Iraq, suspecting that it would be voted down.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...ol-840512.html

[glockmail]

Not what i've been readin, from the Independent



http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...ol-840512.html

And now, the rest of the story...

Hoshyar Zebari, the Iraqi foreign minister, criticized the lawmakers for poisoning the public discussion before an agreement is concluded. He said U.S. officials had been flexible in the talks, as well as "frank and honest since the beginning."

"This is an ongoing process," Zebari said. "There is no agreement yet. Proposals have been modified, they have been changed and altered. We don't have a final text yet for them to be judgmental."

..........

The top U.S. Embassy spokesman in Iraq rejected the latest Iraqi criticism.

"Look, there is going to be no occupation," said U.S. spokesman Adam Ereli. "Now it's perfectly understandable that there are those that are following this closely in Iraq who have concerns about what this means for Iraqi sovereignty and independence. We understand that and we appreciate that and that's why nothing is going to be rammed down anybody's throat.

"It's kind of like a forced marriage. It just doesn't work. They either want you or they don't want you. You can't use coercion to get them to like you," he added.

U.S. officials in Baghdad say they are determined to complete the accord by July 31 so that parliamentary deliberations can be completed before the Dec. 31 expiration of the UN mandate.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/40372.html