Iraq Wants Timeline For U.S. Pullout

Foreign Minister Says Security Deal Must Include Timeline For Departure Of US Troops; Suicide Bomber Kills Five Near Baghdad

(AP)  Iraq's foreign minister insisted Sunday that any security deal with the United States must contain a "very clear timeline" for the departure of U.S. troops. A suicide bomber struck north of Baghdad, killing at least five people including an American soldier.

Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told reporters that American and Iraqi negotiators were "very close" to reaching a long-term security agreement that will set the rules for U.S. troops in Iraq after the U.N. mandate expires at the end of the year.

Zebari said the Iraqis were insisting that the agreement include a "very clear timeline" for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces, but he refused to talk about specific dates.

"We have said that this is a condition-driven process," he added, suggesting that the departure schedule could be modified if the security situation changed.

But Zebari made clear that the Iraqis would not accept a deal that lacks a timeline for the end of the U.S. military presence.

"No, no definitely there has to be a very clear timeline," Zebari replied when asked if the Iraqis would accept an agreement that did not mention dates.

Differences over a withdrawal timetable have become one of the most contentious issues remaining in the talks, which began early this year. U.S. and Iraqi negotiators missed a July 31 target date for completing the deal, which must be approved by Iraq's parliament.

President Bush has steadfastly refused to accept any timetable for bringing U.S. troops home. Last month, however, Bush and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki agreed to set a "general time horizon" for a U.S. departure.

Last week, two senior Iraqi officials told The Associated Press that American negotiators had agreement to a formula which would remove U.S. forces from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009 with all combat troops out of the country by October 2010.

The last American support troops would leave about three years later, the Iraqis said.

But U.S. officials insist there is no agreement on specific dates. Both the American and Iraqi officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are ongoing. Iraq's Shiite-led government believes a withdrawal schedule is essential to win parliamentary approval.

American officials have been less optimistic because of major differences on key issues including who can authorize U.S. military operations and immunity for U.S. troops from prosecution under Iraqi law.

The White House said discussions continued on a bilateral agreement and said any timeframe discussed was due to major improvements in security over the past year.

"We are only now able to discuss conditions-based time horizons because security has improved so much. This would not have been possible 18 months ago," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Sunday. "We all look forward to the day when Iraqi security forces take the lead on more combat missions, allowing U.S. troops to serve in an overwatch role, and more importantly return home."

Iraq's position in the U.S. talks hardened after a series of Iraqi military successes against Shiite and Sunni extremists in Basra, Baghdad, Mosul and other major cities.

Violence in Iraq has declined sharply over the past year following a U.S. troop buildup, a Sunni revolt against al Qaeda in Iraq and a Shiite militia cease-fire.

But attacks continue, raising concern that the militants are trying to regroup.

The suicide bomber struck Sunday afternoon as U.S. and Iraqi troops were responding to a roadside bombing that wounded an Iraqi in Tarmiyah, 30 miles north of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.

Four Iraqi civilians were killed along with the American soldier, military spokesman Lt. Col. Steve Stover said. Two American soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter were among 24 people wounded.

No group claimed responsibility for the blast but suicide bombings are the signature attack of al Qaeda in Iraq.

"This was a heinous attack by al Qaeda in Iraq against an Iraqi family, followed by a cowardly attack against innocent civilians, their security forces and U.S. soldiers," Stover said.

Elsewhere, a suicide car bomber attacked the Kurdish security department in Khanaqin, 90 miles northeast of Baghdad. At least two people were killed and 25 wounded, including the commander of local Kurdish forces, Lt. Col. Majid Ahmed, police said.

Ethnic tensions have been rising in northern Iraq amid disputes between Kurds, Turkomen and mostly Sunni Arabs over Kurdish demands to annex the oil-rich city of Kirkuk into their self-ruled region.

Sawarah Ghalib, 25, who was wounded in the blast, said he believed military operations under way south of the city in Diyala province had pushed insurgents into the Khanaqin area.

"I did not expect that a terrorist attack to take place in our secure town," Ghalib said from his bed in the Khanaqin hospital. "Al Qaeda is to blame for this attack. Operations in Diyala have pushed them here."

In Baghdad, six people were killed in a series of bombings on the first day of the Iraqi work week.

The deadliest blast occurred about 8:15 a.m. in a crowded area where people wait for buses in the capital's mainly Shiite southeastern district of Kamaliya. Four people were killed, including a woman and her brother, and 11 others wounded, according to police.

A car bomb later exploded as an Iraqi army patrol transporting money to a state-run bank passed by in Baghdad's central Khillani square, killing two people including an Iraqi soldier and wounding nine other people, a police officer said.

Another Iraqi soldier was killed and five were wounded by a car bomb in Salman Pak, about 25 kilometers south of Baghdad, police said.

[micma-2009]

Iraqis not only want us to leave but they want us to commit to a definite timeline to leave. This must really pisss the neocon nuts off.


lol!

[ontheleft]

The problem is, the United States has no intention of withdrawing from Iraq, ever. It''s all about the oil.

[woodjd42]

We need to do as they ask and get out, however we need to take all that surplus oli money thay are saving to pay us back for what we spent. I think I remember some idiot saying that the oil money would pay for the war and it would not cost us anything. What an idiot chaney is.

[txlakeside]

Our GOV lied to us to get us to go in. IRAQ does not want us there. It be be just a matter of time until IRAQ is back to the same type regime as before and EXXON and SHELL will get kicked out again. Just like 35 years ago!

Most folks dont like greedy corrupt businesses! Would you hire Blackwater, KBR or Pearson?

Greedy repubs have overstayed their welcome in IRAQ and now will soon get kicked out! All of this at the expense of the American Taxpayer! Stupid greedy repubs!

[irliberal]

Iraq, the so-called "sovereign" nation we installed a puppet government in (based on the Koran) wants us to leave, and they want a definitive timeline for us to do so.

Who are we to say no? How is it possible for us to say no, or ignore the request, and still claim that Iraq is a sovereign nation, and not a conquered, occupied protectorate of the United States?

[pvperson]

Didn''t Iraq get the memo from Bush, it''s supposed to be called a "time horizon" not line. Or maybe a "time period" or "time interval" or who the hell knows?

[liberalme]

Ahhhh Bush the failure!

Bush failed a getting the oil he invaded an unarmed country for,
Bush failed at being the president of the United States,
Bush failed at being a "uniter" and became the divider,
Bush failed at becoming the world leader he was planning on becoming.

There is no honorable example this loser has set that any young person would want to achieve.

Is America ready for a president with a brain?

We''ll see in November.

[hermitdave]

We will not leave until they promise to never again try a throw out the Western oil guys.

[actornaught]

I like the part about how Lying John is claiming that a timetable (horizon) was his idea all along.

[liberalme]

I like the part about how Lying John is claiming that a timetable (horizon) was his idea all along.


Posted by actornaught

Yeah, the 100 year one!

[n8yvn29]

Once we get a president with a clear head elected, we WILL get out of this Vietnam-like quagmire that Bush has lied us into.

[josephp5]

Why is CBS News not pointing out to its readers that this agreement between US and Iraq is unconstitutional? In order for this to be a valid treaty, it must be approved by two thirds of the Senate. Article II, Section 2, Clause 2: "[The President] shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur...."

[Stratmaster7]

Bush and cronies have something else up their sleeve, don''t worry. It may even be starting already with the Georgian invasion of S. Ossetia, followed by the expected response from the Russians. 2000 Georgian troops are on their way out of Iraq, leaving... well.. pretty much us and a few Brits.

[airboatboy]

Hey Georgy Boy! Iraq wants ya gone, your own country can''t wait till your gone, do ya think you screwed-up? Probably not...

[nextgenman]

Posted by JosephP5 at 04:11 PM : Aug 10, 2008
---------

Its not a treaty, its an agreement.

[samsel3]

Ahhhh Bush the failure!
Posted by liberalme at 03:18 PM : Aug 10, 2008

You left out:

Failed at Phillips Academy

Failed at getting into Yale, until mommy set up the Barbara Bush scholarship of which GW was the first recipient.

Failed at Arbusto Oil Corp. Saudis bailed him out, for which he would owe them future favors. Like taking out their enemy Saddam ..........

[josephp5]

If it''s not a treaty (i.e., ratified by the US Senate), then it is unenforceable. Calling it an "agreement" is simply another attempt of the Bush Administration to make an end run around the Constitution.

[josephp5]

I might further point out that the Geneva Convention is an example of a ratified US treaty. It therefore is the Law of the Land, equal in stature to all other US laws. This "agreement" is nothing of the sort, and the next US President (or Iraqi President) may choose to ignore it if he wishes.

[samsel3]

Posted by stratmaster2 at 04:13 PM : Aug 10, 2008

Ossettia is a province of Georgia. The Russians are the invaders.

Russia is the second largest supplier of oil on the planet, the Saudis are number one.
The russian economy is built on oil & natural gas.

This is about protection and control of oil & gas pipelines from the Caspian Sea to the seaport in Ceyran, Turkey.

The source of the oil is the BTC pipeline from the Caspian Sea Region. Shareholders in the BTC pipeline are: British Petroleum, AzBTC, Chevron, Statoil, TPAO, ENI, Total, Itochu, INPEX, ConocoPhillips & Amerada Hess. The US armed Georgia.

Russia is the agressor in this action. they want control over south ossetia where the pipelines pass through. The Russian''s are looking after their own interests and will not be co-erced.

[txgrouch2006]

You want a timetable?? I''ll give you a timetable.

AS SOON AS IRAQ PAYS OUR WAR BILLS, WE''LL GO HOME.

Sounds fair to me.

[raoul2b]

Bush said in 2006 that we would stay in Iraq as long as they want us to stay, and that we would leave when they want us to leave. Seems as though, unlike McComa, they want a time line for us to get out. Seems as though Obama got it right.

[raoul2b]

The irony is: We all knew that this was a war for oil. Oil was at $29.00 a barrel, now it''s about $129.00 a barrel. We were told the oil would pay for the oil, yet it''s costing us over ten billion a month. Cheney said it would probably be over in a month, maybe six weeks, but surely not much longer than that. That was FIVE years ago. McComa was 100% behind these stupid decisions.

[raoul2b]

I like the part about how Lying John is claiming that a timetable (horizon) was his idea all along.

Posted by actornaught at 03:42 PM : Aug 10, 2008
_________________________

McComa said: "No time line, that would be just telegraping our enemies that we were leaving." Did the clown think we would stay for ever, or just for his 100 years.

[hotpaulie]

txgrouch2006 - "AS SOON AS IRAQ PAYS OUR WAR BILLS WE''LL GO HOME."

Um, that is not going to happen...You can thank Bush for all the money lost...not the next U.S. president who will be forced to raise taxes.

[raoul2b]

Gettin them to pay our bills aint gonna happen but cuttin the apron strings will stop the hemorrage of money over there to the tune ot 4 billion a month.

Posted by fedupwithit1 at 05:17 PM : Aug 10, 2008
___________________

At last count, it was over ten billion a month!

[liberalme]

You want a timetable?? I''''ll give you a timetable.

AS SOON AS IRAQ PAYS OUR WAR BILLS, WE''''LL GO HOME.

Sounds fair to me.


Posted by txgrouch2006

Ummm Iraq had nothing to do with 911

Bush invaded an unarmed country for oil

I reckon, this being Bush''s idea, then Bush the loser should pay every penny!

[cbsblogger]

Are posts disappearing?

[dashortround]

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Despite claims by some critics that the Bush administration invaded Iraq to take control of its oil, the first contracts with major oil firms from Iraq''s new government are likely to go NOT to U.S. companies, but rather to companies from China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

- - - - - -

The party''s over
It''s time to call it a day
They''ve burst your pretty balloon
And taken the moon away
It''s time to wind up the masquerade
Just make your mind up the piper must be paid

The party''s over
The candles flicker and dim
You danced and dreamed through the night
It seemed to be right just being with him
Now you must wake up, all dreams must end
Take off your makeup, the party''s over
It''s all over, my friend

Tra-la-la-la-la...

[cbsblogger]

Should Bush and Cheney have been impeached over the war?

Probably but that would have exposed the very dark side of politics and our government and how it is controlled by forces loyal to those outside the USA such as AIPAC.

Posted by cbsblogger at 05:35 PM : Aug 10, 2008

[jmurrieta1]

"Iraq Wants ''Clear Timeline'' For US Pullout"

Like everyone else except George Bush, Dik Cheney, John McCain, Halliburton, and Blackwater.

[pvperson]

"AS SOON AS IRAQ PAYS OUR WAR BILLS, WE''''LL GO HOME."

So, the rock band that thrashes the hotel room, refuses to leave until THEY are paid for doing the damage. Gotcha, your nutty, but I gotcha.

[tawpdawg111]

Are posts disappearing?

Posted by cbsblogger at 05:40 PM : Aug 10, 2008
***************

Yes. Why?

[tawpdawg111]

Whoa. NBC Brian Williams just reporting USA is airlifting 2,000 Georgian troops out of Iraq to Georgia to fight the Russians.

[trrrorislamx]

Posted by liberalme at 05:25 PM : Aug 10, 2008

the Iraqi war is legal, demonic-rat hero oscar, emmy, nobel prize winning al bore says so,,,

it actually never ended since it only stopped by the signing of a ceasefire,,, just like the korean war,,,

the resumption of hostilities was only a matter of time since iraq broke the ceasefire agreement,,,

blame saddam for iraq,,, Even clintoon and the dems wanted the resumption of hostilities back in 1998,,,

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"Iraq''s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

Moreover, no international law can prevent the United States from taking actions to protect its vital interests, when it is manifestly clear that there is a choice to be made between law and survival. I believe, however, that such a choice is not presented in the case of Iraq. Indeed, should we decide to proceed, that action can be justified within the framework of international law rather than outside it. In fact, though a new UN resolution may be helpful in building international consensus, the existing resolutions from 1991 are sufficient from a legal standpoint. - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/gore/gore092302sp.html

[kazoodan]

Here''s why Bush & Co. wants a time ''horizon'' and not a time ''line''. If someone draws a line ''in the sand'', so to speak, by walking toward it you will eventually reach it. What happens when you start walking toward the horizon?

Here''s a hint: you can''t reach the horizon.

[patriot12436]

I too want a clear time table, like yesterday. I also would like a time table on when the Iraqui''s are going to pay us for the cost of this war as agreed on.

[patriot12436]

samse13
Did you overlook the fact that Georgia initiated the attack ?

[trrrorislamx]

Posted by fedupwithit1 at 07:09 PM : Aug 10, 2008

BS

Top Secret: Bush Told the Truth About WMD
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=26457045-1E9E-4795-9D31-0E5B73E74EE9

Foreign Intel Had Identified WMD Sites
http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/007528.php

Saddam, Nikita and Virtual Weapons of Mass Destruction:
A Question of Threat Perception and Intelligence Assessment
David B. Rivkin, Jr., and Lee A. Casey
http://www.inthenationalinterest.com/Articles/Vol2Issue23/Vol2iss23RivkinCasey.html

THE SECURITY COUNCIL, 27 JANUARY 2003:

AN UPDATE ON INSPECTION

Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC, Dr. Hans Blix
http://www.un.org/Depts/unmovic/Bx27.htm

AP Reports ''Bush Lied'' Study Funded by Ultra-leftist George Soros
http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/warner-todd-huston/2008/01/23/ap-bush-lied-study-not-revealed-funded-george-soros

[trrrorislamx]

Posted by fedupwithit1 at 07:07 PM : Aug 10, 2008

YOU DO NOT LIKE THE USA IN THE MIDDLE EAST

BLAME THE DEMONIC-RATS

THE DEMONIC-RAT DOCTRINE

On February 16, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said the "the defense of Saudi Arabia is vital to the defense of the United States." On February 14, 1945, while returning from the Yalta Conference, Roosevelt met with King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia on the Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal, the first time a U.S. president had visited the Persian Gulf region.

The Carter Doctrine was a policy proclaimed by President of the United States Jimmy Carter in his State of the Union Address on 23 January 1980, which stated that the United States would use military force if necessary to defend its national interests in the Persian Gulf region. The doctrine was a response to the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union, and was intended to deter the Soviet Union%u2014the Cold War adversary of the United States%u2014from seeking hegemony in the Persian Gulf. After stating that Soviet troops in Afghanistan posed "a grave threat to the free movement of Middle East oil," Carter proclaimed:

Let our position be absolutely clear: An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Doctrine

[eclecticman1]

Obama got it right. But Bush/McCain/Cheney got it wrong. We need a time line to get out of Iraq.

[deacon20081]

The MCSAME Hacks are jamming the boards one again huh?
Terrislam? What''s next idiot. Keep changing your name lol they will still kick your sleazyness off the boards.

[jimfinster]

Obama says:


TOLD YA SO !

[randynason]

Iraq Wants ''Clear Timeline'' For US Pullout

So do the American people. Gramps McSame would do well to listen, although I rather doubt he does. He would sooner listen to Exxon-Mobil.

[trrrorislamx]

Posted by eclecticman1 at 07:35 PM : Aug 10, 2008

LOOK WHO FORGOT HE WAS FOR THE SURGE BEFORE HE WAS AGAINST THE SURGE,,,

Obama said he would support sending more troops to Iraq if it would hasten the end of the war. An immediate withdrawal, he said, would create "an extraordinary hotbed of terrorist activity" and be "a slap in the face" to the troops fighting there.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2007/aug/30/rnc-goes-after-clinton-obama-iraq/

[deacon20081]

Meanwhile George Bush stomps his feet and Cheney threatens to hold his breath till he turns blue.....
and you thought it was his heart!

[oldwhiteguy1]

Give them a date...make it the day after they pay the US half a trillion dollars.
We had to pay them not to kill us so make them pay us to leave...

[cbsblogger]

Are posts disappearing?

Posted by cbsblogger at 05:40 PM : Aug 10, 2008
***************

Yes. Why?
==================

CBS had allowed viewers to candidly have their say o this forum, which is as it should be, as we viewers are their customers. We should have the same right to respond as they have to publish.

Could it be that they no longer want viewers to have their say? I''ve had 2 posts disappear tonight and it isn''t a good feeling.

We''ll see how they stand on it for now.

[hazelknows]

mission accomplished...... the big oil companies that were removed back in 1972, are back in control of Iraq''s and now is when the shrubs administration will say time to leave. Iraq can used their banked billions to rebuild there country and kick Halliburton
to the curb with the rubbish. mission accomplished....

[actornaught]

I still like the part where Lying John talks about how great a 16-month timetable, uh uh horizon, is and it''s one of his favorite ideas.

[liberalme]

Posted by trrrorislamx
You''re so filled with hate anger and bigotry, you''re nuts!