BAGHDAD, July 8, 2008
Iraq: No Withdrawal Timetable, No Deal
Dates For U.S. Forces To Leave Necessary Before Security Accord Can Be Inked, Official Says
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Violence in Iraq has fallen to its lowest level in four years. The change has been driven by the 2007 buildup of American forces, the Sunni tribal revolt against al Qaeda in Iraq and crackdowns against Shiite militias and Sunni extremists. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
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Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen gestures during a news conference at the Pentagon, Friday, April 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
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Photo Essay Week In Iraq Photos A daily diary with scenes of the latest attacks and snapshots from the effort to rebuild a nation.
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Interactive Iraq: 5 Years At War Five years after the U.S.-led invasion, the war wears on.
The comments by Mouwaffak al-Rubaie were the strongest yet by an Iraqi official about the deal now under negotiation with U.S. officials. It came a day after Iraq's prime minister first said publicly that he expects the pending troop deal with the United States to have some type of timetable for withdrawal.
U.S. President George W. Bush has said he opposes a timetable. The White House said Monday it did not believe al-Maliki was proposing a rigid timeline for U.S. troop withdrawals.
U.S. officials had no immediate comment Tuesday on al-Rubaie's words.
Al-Rubaie spoke to reporters after briefing Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf on the progress of the government's security efforts, and the talks.
"Our stance in the negotiations underway with the American side will be strong ... We will not accept any memorandum of understanding that doesn't have specific dates to withdraw foreign forces from Iraq," al-Rubaie sid.
Some type of agreement between the United States and Iraq is needed to keep U.S. troops in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires at year's end.
U.S. officials have said little publicly about the negotiations. Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not comment directly on the specifics when asked about it on a trip to Baghdad.
"We'd all like to see U.S. troops get out of here at some point in time," Mullen said. "However, from a military perspective I need the laws and the regulations and the agreements from the government of Iraq in order to continue operations beyond the 31st of December of this year."
On Monday, Mullen sounded more optimistic, saying, "From all I see, the security conditions are holding, the level of violence is down; we're down to a level that we haven't seen in over four years."
Iraq's government has felt increasingly confident in recent weeks about its authority and the country's improved stability, and Iraqi officials have sharpened their public stance in the negotiations considerably in just the last few days.
Violence in Iraq has fallen to its lowest level in four years. The change has been driven by the 2007 buildup of American forces, the Sunni tribal revolt against al Qaeda in Iraq and crackdowns against Shiite militias and Sunni extremists.
In other developments:
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Add a Comment See all 1190 Comments
- So you''''re saying al-Maliki (not Malaki, btw) is running on a platform of ''''Vote for me, I''''ll get rid of the Americans & you''''ll all die?''''
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Posted by nanc12 at 12:19 PM : Jul 09, 2008
Yeah, Malaki is stupid like Obama who''ll say anything to get a vote whether it''s good for the people or not. - Reply to this comment
- It''''s also an election year in Iraq...and I suspect that Malaki is doing the same thing Obama is...throwing around a lot of rhetoric...Malaki knows what will happen when the US pulls out...Iraq will be annexed by Iran and the Sunni''''s will be DEAD.
Posted by RowdyWicca
So you''re saying al-Maliki (not Malaki, btw) is running on a platform of ''Vote for me, I''ll get rid of the Americans & you''ll all die?'' - Reply to this comment
- Democrats Hate FOX News because millions of American have chosen %u201CFair and Balanced.%u201D
Posted by demslie2u at 07:57 AM : Jul 09, 2008
Always knew you were an idiot. Thanks for confirming it. - Reply to this comment
- "Our stance in the negotiations underway with the American side will be strong ... We will not accept any memorandum of understanding that doesn''t have specific dates to withdraw foreign forces from Iraq," al-Rubaie sid.
HOW PLAINER CAN IT BE TO YOU BUSHITES? THE IRAQIS WANT SPECIFIC DATES ON U.S. TROOP WITHDRAWALS. GOT IT? SO WHAT LAME EXCUSE ARE YOU BUSHITES GOING TO COME UP WITH NOW FOR JUSTIFYING OUR CONTINUED OCCUPATION OF THEIR COUNTRY? (THIS SHOULD BE GOOD.) ONLY 195 DAYS LEFT! ENJOY! - Reply to this comment
- It''s also an election year in Iraq...and I suspect that Malaki is doing the same thing Obama is...throwing around a lot of rhetoric...Malaki knows what will happen when the US pulls out...Iraq will be annexed by Iran and the Sunni''s will be DEAD.
- Reply to this comment
- Of course McVet can rant, but he should at least be correct in his rant.
- Reply to this comment
- Why not just pull our troops right now? The Iraquis in reality only want us there is the short term and they have to run their own country. We will have a timetable before the election anyways as it will be a political issue for votes. Let''s get clear of the region and concentrate on our own country''s economy.
- Reply to this comment
- McVet can rant over anything he wants there fella. You go ahead and rant, McVet..
- Reply to this comment
- "the IRAQ government said no hard timetable for troop to leave .....Posted by demslie2u at 07:57 AM
Um, read the story next time. "The White House said Monday it did not believe al-Maliki was proposing a rigid timeline for U.S. troop withdrawals" not the Iraq government. You really believe Bush? - Reply to this comment
- "So in your VERY small and VERY insignificant little mind" Posted by MCVet at 06:45 AM
Did you really bother to read my post? The Dems made the same demand and caved into Bush. In other words they are weak and give into Bush all the time. I am not a Bush fan and if you bothered to pay attention to what you are reading...........you would see I think we could have pulled out already if Nancy did her job and stuck to what the Democrats stated they would do, cut off the war funds to end Bush''s lie.
By the way, who do you think you are, besides some arrogant fool, calling anyone a pathetic loser? You jump the gun and rant and all the while you ranted over nothing. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by OneWorldUSA at 05:27 AM : Jul 09, 2008
Yep, Obama''s big idea is to prop up the corrupt government in Iraq...he an his pal Alsamarre can''t wait to get over there and get their hands on some more of that money. - Reply to this comment
- Exactly McVet. When the loonies in charge its a one man show.
- Reply to this comment
- Posted by LUVUSA
Why is it you idiots think its as easy as just leaving? If not done correctly, i.e. Iraq cannot protect itself
Posted by neoconism at 03:19 AM : Jul 09, 2008
So YOU agree with Obama then?? Why is it so many have the basic problem of not being able to accept the reality of Iraq?? I mean very well educated people have put together ALL the LIES and there are a MOUNTAIN of them, told to us to start this war? Why can''t they figure out that the "Front" in the War on Terror was a fraud for the benefit of Big Oil? I mean it''s right there in front of their face. But to add to the problem is the FACT that members of the Administration that LIED us into this mess have come out and TOLD them this and they still grovel at the feet of the Reich? Why? What happened to these people... how can they stray so far from the spirit and soul of this nation? SIEG HEIL BUSH!! - Reply to this comment
- Sounds like the Democratic Congress. I wonder if the Iraq Government is just as weak as the Democrats and will they give into Bush too?
Posted by jjp735i at 06:09 AM : Jul 09, 2008
So in your VERY small and VERY insignificant little mind ANYONE who wants to allow a Government run by the PEOPLE to take an action that does NOT fit the Fascist Play Book... they are weak? Geeee I wonder how we''ve managed to get through all those years before you Nazi''s came along. It''s simple you pathetic loser... THEY want us OUT of their Country... WE, you do remember WE the PEOPLE??? Well WE want out as well. Now go play with your magic swastika and pretend that Iraq really WAS the "Front" on Terror!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!! Dumb as a box of rocks!! Honest folks these tired old fascist HAVE to have the intelligence of ROCKS not to understand the FRAUD of Iraq!! - Reply to this comment
- We need to get the heL* out of Iraq. PERIOD!
- Reply to this comment
- "Iraq:No Withdrawal Time Table, No Deal"
Sounds like the Democratic Congress. I wonder if the Iraq Government is just as weak as the Democrats and will they give into Bush too? - Reply to this comment
- oneworldusa
Iraq has been fighting forever and will be fighting long after we are gone. It is just their way of life. I don''t care what happens there, we should never have invaded. It was an internal problm and they should have been left to deal with it. But i think they proved they didn''t have the guts to take out Sadaam. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by patriot12436 at 05:13 AM : Jul 09, 2008
-Amen. Yep, I think collapse is likely if the US doesn''t remain. I''m not for even being there in the first place, but I worry once US and whatever ally forces might be left leave, Iran will step in and try to annex Iraq.
Ama-what''s-his-name said war with Israel or US was very unlikely. He didn''t mention Iraq. I think he''s moved on to watching what happens with US forces and will focus on the ''easy proposition'' of taking over the young government of Iraq. - Reply to this comment
- rharrin1
If bush said we are guests, then i think we should check out and come home. We have overstayed our welcome by about 4 and 1/2 years. - Reply to this comment
- incognito
I also agree with you.
Spark224
The only reason no omne will start impeachment process against bush is because they supported him and they think their heads will roll with his, which is a great posibility. - Reply to this comment
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