Interesting News
And it's good news if it's true. I'm much more apt to agree to withdraw from Iraq if the Iraqis are wanting it. This means that the good news we haven't been hearing about (they've met 15 of the 18 benchmarks we set for them, and May casualties were at pre-war levels) is true and the Iraqis are starting to take over.
Iraq says may agree timetable for U.S. withdrawal
If he wants us gone ... I'm happy to oblige. I think Bush's comments in the past about a disaster being imminent if we pulled out were aimed more at showing solidarity and that we wouldn't leave Iraq in the lurch if they needed the support. But if it turns out that they are ready to take over their own nation ... I'm thrilled.
I just don't want a precipitous withdrawal and a genocide to follow. That would be a tragedy. And I also don't want to abandon them as we did Afghanistan in the 80s. We will only breed more trouble that way. And I think we've all had enough trouble.
Iraq says may agree timetable for U.S. withdrawal
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki raised the prospect on Monday of setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops as part of negotiations over a new security agreement with Washington.
It was the first time the U.S.-backed Shi'ite-led government has floated the idea of a timetable for the removal of American forces from Iraq. The Bush administration has always opposed such a move, saying it would give militant groups an advantage.
In a statement, Maliki's office said the prime minister made the comments about the security pact -- which will replace a U.N. mandate for the presence of U.S. troops that expires on December 31 -- to Arab ambassadors in the United Arab Emirates.
"In all cases, the basis for any agreement will be respect for the full sovereignty of Iraq," the statement quoted Maliki as saying.
"The current trend is to reach an agreement on a memorandum of understanding either for the departure of the forces or a memorandum of understanding to put a timetable on their withdrawal."
It said Maliki, who is on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, was responding to questions from the ambassadors about the security talks with the United States.
If he wants us gone ... I'm happy to oblige. I think Bush's comments in the past about a disaster being imminent if we pulled out were aimed more at showing solidarity and that we wouldn't leave Iraq in the lurch if they needed the support. But if it turns out that they are ready to take over their own nation ... I'm thrilled.
I just don't want a precipitous withdrawal and a genocide to follow. That would be a tragedy. And I also don't want to abandon them as we did Afghanistan in the 80s. We will only breed more trouble that way. And I think we've all had enough trouble.
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