Iraqis Continue To Insist On Timetable For Withdrawal

Earlier this week, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki stated that forthcoming agreements with the United States would include a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. At the time, State Department spokesman Sean McCormick joined with the Bush administration in pretending to not know what al Maliki was talking about:

Well, that's really the part - the point at which I would seek greater clarification in terms of remarks. I've seen the same press reports that you have. But I haven't yet had an opportunity to get greater clarity as to exactly to what Mr. Maliki was referring or if, in fact, that's an accurate reporting of what he said.

Here's that greater clarity for you!

Iraqi spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in Baghdad on Wednesday that a U.S. pullout could be completed in several years. "It can be 2011 or 2012," he said. "We don't have a specific date in mind, but we need to agree on the principle of setting a deadline."

That comes buried deep in a story in today's Washington Post, titled "U.S. General: Iraqi Forces to Be Fully Ready in '09." That sort of hints that we should be thinking in the very short-term for the end of the Iraq occupation, right? Why then, is al-Dabbagh's statement equated with the duration of "several years?" A timetable that fixes on completing the withdrawal in 2011 is just six months longer than the withdrawal plan that Senator Barack Obama has long favored.

That's probably why the White House is still weaseling around. Tony Fratto greeted the remarks thusly: "We'd like to have a date that we can reach for as a goal when coalition forces can make this transition, but it should be based on ground conditions." But what's to be gained by refusing to leave? I'd say that when the sovereign government of Iraq is telling you the end of the party is drawing nigh, that qualifies as a "ground condition."

Comments

[poco767b]

What right do they have to insist on anything? it's not like it is their country, it belongs to Exxon and Haliburton now.

[williamg]

Maliki better watch out. He may find himself hiding in a spider hole like a certain ex-leader of Iraq.

[luvangelHussein330]

Well thats good since Obama has been saying that for the longest time as well...

[pitneo]

If they don't shut up soon, they might get Bush mad and cause another invasion:) .....although I hope that doesn't happen.

We need to stop agreeing to go to war and that's the only way to stop Bush and his war mongers.

[Tamalpais]

That is funny, they actually think that they have a say in this matter.

[justobserve]

The fact is Americans can't stand a prolonged war. Anything longer than the Kuwait war will be protested against.

[JimR]

If they keep this crap up, we're going to have to invade them again!

[southafrica4obama]

Just as I thought

[chirps]

Bush to Maliki: "You say goodbye and I say hello..."

[Meggie]

Good luck Iraqis! We've been screaming it for a while now. If you're not careful, you'll be directed to the corral-type area behind the tape where the cameras don't see you.

[bygollymissmolly]

General: Iraqi Forces to Be Fully Ready in '09."
--------------
That is a bunch of BS. They are no where near ready now after trying to train them for 7 years. How can we get in done in another 6-8 months.

[JohnTalbutt]

Do you realize that the entire able bodied male population had military training and those in their late thirties were in combat with Iran. Many of them have had a lot more training that their trainers.

They know how to fight if they are not divided politically. And Maliki is apparently saying that they have a viable coalition.

What is probably holding things up is that they really do want their country back and that means the oil and no occupation.

[PATina]

It doesn't take 6 to 8 months to train our own troops to go fight in Iraq or Afghanistan. If the Iraqi forces are NOT ready in 6 to 8 months... it's my feeling that the US military is just stalling for time to stay in Iraq longer than necessary.

Add to the fact that it's been YEARS since Mission Accomplished... they should have already been trained and we should have been out.

One more thing... if the Iraqi's are asking us to set a date for withdrawal... they obviously feel they or ready. Or maybe they are telling us 'to s*** or get off the pot"

Either way... we should leave.

[Soothsayer08]

They have probably always been ready but not in Bush's opinion.

[levibatgirl]

Try this Maliki, "Get the he// out of my country!!!"

[Bluejay00234]

But...but what about the 100 years?

[marc1antony]

best way to get the Americans out - have the occupied country continue to voice their opposition to the occupation. Shame Bush into leaving - (as if that's even possible, it's about the oil, stupid!)

[V4Vigilance]

Don't you hate it when somebody repeatedly uses the wrong word or phrase; e.g., you know they mean "please, stay as long as you want" but they keep saying "let us know when you plan to leave, the sooner the better"?

[savagetiger]

Don't you hate it when someone writes a comment that adds no relevant discourse - and is obviously at a distinct intelligent disadvantage while continuing to try to sound smart?

[V4Vigilance]

I do appreciate self-deprecating humor.

[abouttime]

How are things in Iraq?
Seems the mainstream media and HufPo are not that interested!

[Meggie]

Things are: the Iraqis want us to leave and Bush & Co are stalling. all any American needs to be interested in. it's not our country, and they clearly want it back with us out.