Iraq confident Obama won't withdraw troops too quickly

[eddy]

http://www.reuters.com/article/world...rpc=22&sp=true

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Iraqi government is confident that president-elect Barack Obama will not jeopardize Iraq's improving security by hastily withdrawing U.S. troops, Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Wednesday.

The administration of President George W. Bush had long resisted deadlines for withdrawal, but is now working on a security pact that would set 2011 as an end date for the U.S. troop presence, a concession that moved U.S. policy closer to Obama's proposals.

"We are negotiating right now with the U.S. for a timeline of 2011 for U.S. forces to withdraw from the country ... Our position has become much closer to what Senator Obama during his election campaign called for," Zebari said.

"When there is a reality check, I think any U.S. president has to look very hard at the facts on the ground," he told Al-Jazeera television. "The gains that we have attained and won with hard struggle and a great deal of sacrifice need to be sustained."

[Gmofftarki]

pfffffffffft... he's in for a nasty surprise.

[Robert Williams]

Iraq is more confident than I am, then.

[Skitter]

Does the president stand alone on this issue? Considering how the surge was such an overwhelming success (not big time) why would it be an issue?

 

Is the US responsible for a civil war or ethnic cleansing which is closer to what the Surge was when we leave?

 

If Iraq is so volatile how can we ever leave? Could the UN move in to monitor all the killing?

[Triet]

Are we still in Iraq?

[eddy]

Does the president stand alone on this issue? Considering how the surge was such an overwhelming success (not big time) why would it be an issue?

 

Is the US responsible for a civil war or ethnic cleansing which is closer to what the Surge was when we leave?

 

If Iraq is so volatile how can we ever leave? Could the UN move in to monitor all the killing?

 

no UN please.

we don't want the kid-touchers there, just like we don't want them here.

[Triet]

no UN please.

we don't want the kid-touchers there, just like we don't want them here.

 

Then don't send any Republicans. DidI just say that? Damn.

[BrianBM]

Expectations of immediate withdrawal always were exaggerated. However, if the Iraqis continue to insist on making US personnel subject to Iraqi law and courts, we may find ourselves with nothing to do save clean up, wash up and come home. I can't see any President letting the local politicians pick off American personnel, even contract mercenaries, through court proceedings.

[Robert Williams]

Brian, I agree with you. If that's what they start doing, they're telling us they don't need us around any more and there's no argument for staying once we get an invitation like that to GTF out.