Leaked Iraq Exit Stategy: Out By 2011?

Washington Independent:

It was supposed to lock in an indefinite U.S. occupation.

Last year, after the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki indicated that Iraq considered the U.N. Security Council mandate for the U.S. occupation an affront to Iraqi sovereignty, the Bush administration signed a "Declaration of Principles" with Maliki for the future of the U.S.-Iraq relationship. It underscored the prospective terms for an agreement on an indefinite U.S. presence. American and Iraqi negotiators have now spent months working on this accord.

But the latest -- and possibly final -- text of that agreement reveals that the Iraqi government has undermined practically every effort made by the Bush White House to lock in the occupation as an enduring feature of U.S. foreign policy.

Read the whole story: Washington Independent

Comments

[patianneb]

06:04 PM on 10/23/2008

The last I read about this some weeks ago was that 2010 was proposed, but Rice & administration said, no, 2011 would be better. Of course it would....especially with another election coming and all.

[JoeHusseinFritzl]

03:49 PM on 10/23/2008

Obama better pull the occupiers out like he promised. That is his first job and that is the reason he is being elected. The world is not going to stand for more of this.

[jenrose]

01:24 PM on 10/23/2008

This whole debacle in the mean time has many soilders and familys very freightened including my self who son in is Baghdad right now. We are all so uneasy about this and has turned to a disaster. A pending great safety risk for our soldiers. Not only dealing with the economic woes and job losses here. The death and destruction those soldiers have witnessed and then the care when they return all voted no by McCain. All the bills to help the troops with needed extra armor McCain/no Obama/yes Same with 4 other bills for vet facilities.

McCain in his remarks amazingly doesnt even understand it? That is very ironic? Many of the troops think that McCain is for the troops and key the their saftey. THIS IS SO WRONG!!

[BamaGrl9000]

01:40 PM on 10/23/2008

sorry about your son but he voluntered and he knew he was going to iraq. obama will bring him home.

[MyAudacity]

01:19 PM on 10/23/2008

If you go to World News.com it gives more comprehensive information about the NATO agreement the White House is trying to push on the Iraqi government. They are cloaking a Troop pullout by June 2009 if the ground conditions are right, under the condition that the American Troops remain until December 2011, unless the Iraq Government asked them to stay longer.

Does anyone else see this as Bush trying to extend his influence into the next 3 years, and impeding the Democratic President from being able to pull the troops out sooner rather than later. This also will be a political issue for any Presidential Nominee for 2012.


Why are we treated as if we are stupid, by keeping us distracted with frivilous and impertinent political noise, while the Administration is worked below the surface to make the next 4 years unbearably hard.

We need to watch and be vigilant about what is occurring in our government.

[timberdoodle]

01:13 PM on 10/23/2008

It would appear any logical decision would involve the U.S. commencing it's troop withdrawl immediately and getting out of that hell hole as soon as is humanly possible. Forget about the oil and Haliburton and the Security Firms they've already made billions on the backs of the troops.

[bronceye]

12:57 PM on 10/23/2008

Has George Bush become a cut and run defeatocrat? I'm sure that he will push to have the Baghdad airport named after him. That would be his legacy.

[Sammy00400]

12:56 PM on 10/23/2008

They waited till Bush was backed up against the wall and desperate to get an agreement signed before the end of the year. Any agreement.

[DavidK08]

12:54 PM on 10/23/2008

First two things that come to mind:

1) this pins Iraq on the Bush admin, for ever! No more leaving it to the dems to take the eventuall blame.

2) Obama showed real leadership and understanding in the one of the very biggest problems we find ourselves in. This is in large part Obama's plan (seems like anyway) and he isn't even POTUS yet.

[Two Three Four]

12:18 PM on 10/23/2008

How the Base was Won
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=114&ArticleName=How+the+Base+was+Won

Massive Minnesota Polling Analysis:
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=116&ArticleName=Minnesota+Meta-Polling

Debunking the Bradley Effect, Again
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=118&ArticleName=Debunking+the+Bradley+Effect%2c+Again

Senate Projections: Democrats 59, Republicans 41
http://voteforamerica.net/senate.aspx

[tmcitizen64]

12:17 PM on 10/23/2008

If we don't bring home our troops from Iraq until 2011, we will be bankrupt by 2009. The wars are costing us $10Billion a month. The Iraqis don't want us there. Why are we still there? Targeting bin Laden doesn't require a military operation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. What are we doing there?

We need to bring our troops home. War is not a "jobs" program.

[BamaGrl9000]

12:08 PM on 10/23/2008

it doesnt matter what the irakis want. obama is gonin to bring the troops home as soon as he is elected. he has promised adn he will deliver!!

[ErrUhEmm]

12:21 PM on 10/23/2008

Do you really believe that? Whether McCain or Obama wins, we will not be out of Iraq (our combat troops, that is) before 2011 at the very earliest. Obama is not going to just pull out. If he were to do that and Iraq break into civil war, he would be a war criminal, and he knows it.

[ErnestineBass]

12:45 PM on 10/23/2008

Care to explain exactly HOW or WHY that would make Obama "a war criminal"?

[BamaGrl9000]

01:39 PM on 10/23/2008

obama has promised to bring teh troops home when he is elected. if he was in charg we woudnt have hav that stupdi SURGE lol and everythign woud be fine NOW

[CyrusBeaucephus]

11:56 AM on 10/23/2008

Wow GOPers this invasion was such a great idea. Loved the "surge" too. Can we bring our kids home now? Or are you guys still looking for the missing WMD?

[BluePride]

11:50 AM on 10/23/2008

A 1965 Voting Rights Act national radio ad:
http://current.com/items/89434265_obama_2008_things_are_changing
Similar problems then, too...

[faith]

11:39 AM on 10/23/2008

Baloney. We need the troops brought home NOW !!!