Iraqi PM demands timetable for troop withdrawal
July 8th 2008 02:57
In action that proves even a puppet government can at times look out for the interests of it's people, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki today he is negotiating a deal with Washington that will include a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. What's that? He doesn't want 40-some odd bases for years? He doesn't like John McCain's suggestion that troops might remain for 100 years? Damn Pinocchio, always wanting to be a "real boy!"
"The direction we are taking is to have a memorandum of understanding either for the departure of the forces or to have a timetable for their withdrawal," Prime Minister al-Maliki was quoted as saying to ambassadors from the United Arab Emirates. He couldn't have been more clear if he would have borrowed the American country saying "don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya."
"The negotiations are still continuing with the American side, but in any case the basis for the agreement will be respect for the sovereignty of Iraq." The Prime Minister added. As could be expected, the remarks didn't set well with the White House.
"It is important to understand that these are not talks on a hard date for withdrawal," said White House spokesman Scott Stanzell. The White House and Pentagon can try to spin this, but the fact is this is the first time the Iraqi government has joined Moqtada al-Sadr in demanding U.S. troop withdrawals.
The talks underway involve the so-called Status of Forces Agreement that the White House wanted to have signed by the end of July. Iraqi politicians, both Sunni and Shiite, have balked. Some Shiite leaders even called the agreement "eternal slavery."
How does this set with the imperialist oil dreams of Bush, Cheney, and company? Don't expect them to agree to anything that even suggests leaving Iraq. Do expect them to continue to beat their war drums for either a U.S. or Israeli attack on Iran. Wouldn't it be ironic if the army who rose to the defense of Shia Iran happened to be the army we trained in Iraq?
"The direction we are taking is to have a memorandum of understanding either for the departure of the forces or to have a timetable for their withdrawal," Prime Minister al-Maliki was quoted as saying to ambassadors from the United Arab Emirates. He couldn't have been more clear if he would have borrowed the American country saying "don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya."
"The negotiations are still continuing with the American side, but in any case the basis for the agreement will be respect for the sovereignty of Iraq." The Prime Minister added. As could be expected, the remarks didn't set well with the White House.
"It is important to understand that these are not talks on a hard date for withdrawal," said White House spokesman Scott Stanzell. The White House and Pentagon can try to spin this, but the fact is this is the first time the Iraqi government has joined Moqtada al-Sadr in demanding U.S. troop withdrawals.
The talks underway involve the so-called Status of Forces Agreement that the White House wanted to have signed by the end of July. Iraqi politicians, both Sunni and Shiite, have balked. Some Shiite leaders even called the agreement "eternal slavery."
How does this set with the imperialist oil dreams of Bush, Cheney, and company? Don't expect them to agree to anything that even suggests leaving Iraq. Do expect them to continue to beat their war drums for either a U.S. or Israeli attack on Iran. Wouldn't it be ironic if the army who rose to the defense of Shia Iran happened to be the army we trained in Iraq?
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Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions