Bush, Iraq PM Discuss Troop Pullout Plan

2011 Eyed As Target Date For U.S. Troops To Leave But No Deal Or Timeline Finalized

(AP)  President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki spoke Friday by secure video as work on a plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq by 2011 continued.

"There are still discussions ongoing," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe. "It's not done until it's done. And the discussions are really ongoing. And ongoing and ongoing. But hopefully drawing to a conclusion."

The comments contradict reports out of Baghdad that a 27-point withdrawal plan had been approved by the two sides.

Mr. Bush is vacationing at his ranch in Texas.

The deal being discussed by U.S. and Iraqi negotiators sets a course for American combat troops to pull out of major Iraqi cities by next June, with a broader exit two years later from the long and costly war that began in March 2003.

The dates could be adjusted if security and political progress in Iraq deteriorate.

There are about 140,000 U.S. forces in Iraq, according to United States Central Command, and more than 4,100 American troops have been killed there.

Johndroe would not discuss specifics of the plan being negotiated, including the dates when U.S. troops might begin to leave.

Increased security in Iraq, which the Bush administration said is due to the so-called surge of U.S. forces more than a year ago, created the conditions for the troop withdrawal negotiations to take place, Johndroe said.

The talks take place as Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama regularly trade shots over progress in Iraq and argue over who is better suited to be commander in chief when Bush leaves office in January.

Obama, the Democratic nominee in waiting, wants all U.S. forces out of Iraq within 16 months of his taking office, saying they are needed in Afghanistan. Violence in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan has increased due to a resurgent Taliban and political instability in Pakistan.

Obama opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq. And he's said the surge of troops has not led to the political reconciliation needed to ensure the country will remain secure once all U.S. troops are gone.

McCain, the Republican candidate, supported the president's January 2007 decision to add 30,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. Those additional troops have returned home.

McCain has said the security situation in Iraq should dictate any pullout schedule. And he's criticized Obama for not only opposing the troop surge but trying to block the funding that would have allowed the increase.

[thegoodtexan]

We never had support to invade Iraq, and that is why we did not do it in 1991. Even after Colin Powels hideous fabrications and untruths at the UN, they did not believe us and refused to sanction the invasion. George Bush invaded anyway, destroyed the country, killed a million people and stole the oil. Now he is a prime candidate for war criminal of the century.

[prudentvoter]

We never wanted our country to invade Iraq in the first place. Once they invaded they committed terrible atrocities, killing unarmed women and children. They didn''t sacrifice for freedom. They did it for the money, and they are trying to stay there for the money. Bring them home, they''ll have to find another way to make a living.

[trrrorislam1]

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

[alohaone1]

Bush is close to DISASTER in Iraq, and I dont mean the one he is getting the media to report. It seems unlikely that he will secure the deals on the oil access he wanted. What he has secured will quite easily be overturned by a REAL incoming Iraqi government (probably with Al Sadr at the helm). So .....the truth is he didnt get anything and his neocon pals didnt get anything either. I hope you find a backbone to get him in court ... there really haven''''t been many americans in history who have committed atrocities on that --------------------------

Posted by tapsettle at 07:53 PM : Aug 23, 2008

I agree with you that Bush may not get the oil deal he wants , not for the oil company , but for America , with oil over $4 now (and by the way , the Evil Oil companies have kept our prices about 1/2 that of most other places on earth , so go figure). I blame stupid Obama and the selfish Dems for this mishap , they are the ones who ,as things are finally getting better in Iraq after the Surge , call for withdraw time-table that emboldens the Iraqis and ties our hands. They may disagree with the initial reasons to go in , but must they spoil things after all the sacrifices by our troops and generals? This is America101, backstabbing troops and selfish politics. I am just glad that our troops did not get sold out as bad as Vietnam , so yeah , our troops died for free , Iraq stabilized , Iraqis got their freedom ,Americans got jack, thanks to their Dems countrymen.

[alohaone1]

Bush is close to DISASTER in Iraq, and I dont mean the one he is getting the media to report. It seems unlikely that he will secure the deals on the oil access he wanted. What he has secured will quite easily be overturned by a REAL incoming Iraqi government (probably with Al Sadr at the helm). So .....the truth is he didnt get anything and his neocon pals didnt get anything either. I hope you find a backbone to get him in court ... there really haven''''t been many americans in history who have committed atrocities on that --------------------------

Posted by tapsettle at 07:53 PM : Aug 23, 2008

I agree with you that Bush may not get the oil deal he wants , not for the oil company , but for America , with oil over $4 now (and by the way , the Evil Oil companies have kept our prices about 1/2 that of most other places on earth , so go figure). I blame stupid Obama and the selfish Dems for this mishap , they are the ones who ,as things are finally getting better in Iraq after the Surge , call for withdraw time-table that emboldens the Iraqis and ties our hands. They may disagree with the initial reasons to go in , but must they spoil things after all the sacrifices by our troops and generals? This is America101, backstabbing troops and selfish politics. I am just glad that our troops did not get sold out as bad as Vietnam , so yeah , our troops died for free , Iraq stabilized , Iraqis got their freedom ,Americans got jack, thanks to their Dems countrymen.

[trrrorislam1]

HUSSEINs VICE PRESIDENT,,,

hmmmm will it be a TYPICAL WHITE PERSON???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8gnmUyminI

hmmmm will it be one that is clinging to his gun and religion???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNoJ0q6HrK8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmv5NZ4zcdc&feature=related

hmmmm will it be one that wants americans to learn spanish???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZprtPat1Vk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W7srmHLclw

hmmmm will it be a RACIST like himSelf, hating whitey and jews???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfC4OOm1aoM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI77cU3jsFs&feature=related

RACIST HUSSEIN PICKS,,, RACIST BIDEN AS VP,,, shocker,,,

Obama''''s Racist Vice President Biden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlxXNyIuyTM

BIDEN SAYS NOW,,, HE IS HAPPY TO BE VICE PRESIDENT TO HUSSEIN,,,

"I mean, you''ve got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice looking guy."
: SENATOR JOE BIDEN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxWSVXZVR4c

BIDEN SAYS HUSSEIN NOT READY,,,

BIDEN SAYS HE IS READY TO RUN WITH OR AGAINST MCCAIN,,,

BIDEN SAYS COUNTRY BETTER OFF WITH MCCAIN,,, THAN HUSSEIN,,,

Joe Biden On Barack Obama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDVUPqoowf8

[trrrorislam1]

NAIVE HUSSEIN SEES AMERICA AS EVIL,,,

and you want to make him PRESIDENT OF THE USA???

Saddleback Church Civil Forum - Obama & McCain 8 of 17
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqsH13unGbM&feature=related

Abortion, evil, Obama and McCain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0eVomjmCGI

[underdogus87]

terrorislamz.. came back as a trojan virus ajx.255-6-45101-RX-12-75-malware

[tapsettle]

Bush is close to DISASTER in Iraq, and I dont mean the one he is getting the media to report. It seems unlikely that he will secure the deals on the oil access he wanted. What he has secured will quite easily be overturned by a REAL incoming Iraqi government (probably with Al Sadr at the helm). So with 100 thousand americans dead, maimed or traumatised, and at least 5 times that for Iraqis, and a US with a reputation down the toilet, the truth is he didnt get anything and his neocon pals didnt get anything either. I hope you find a backbone to get him in court ... there really haven''t been many americans in history who have committed atrocities on that scale.

[tapsettle]

Let them kill each other, save American lives.
Ignorance is everywhere, but if it where regional, the Middle East is the heart.
Posted by dkhorse1

Ignorance IS everywhere - thanks for demonstarting that with your ignorant post. Your handle should be ''dkhead1''.

[underdogus87]

terrorislamz is a virus please report it....

[irliberal]

Mission Accomplished! Stay the Course!

The cowardly cowboy is a bully and a cretin. He only deserves to be in shackles.

[tawpdawg111]

"Bush, Iraq PM Discuss Troop Pullout Plan"
***********************

I wish Babooshka wouldnt discuss ANYTHING with ANYBODY.

He will just rub somebody the wrong way and screw it up. Thats what he does. Ask his Mumsy.

I bet he couldnt run a baseball club.

[misha128-2009]

joe_transit -"The dates could be adjusted if security and political progress in Iraq deteriorate."

That kind of takes the wind out of the sail.

-----------------------------------------

I''m not so sure how much of the wind has left the sails -- The Iraqis probably have an equal say at least in extending the dates. -- If so no more unilateral actions to lengthen the Iraqi conflict by any president alone.

[stn_sage]

My comments are as follows:

1. I don''t doubt joe_transit''s report of what he observed in Iraq! Obviously, it''s NOT what ANY of our political officials are going to tell the American public. Because members of both parties would not want the public to know this!

2. A 27-point withdrawal plan? YIKES! I guess if any one can find ways to overly complicate things, this administration can!

3. How appropriate it is that Mr. Bush is on vacation at home while discussing this historic withdrawal plan, while the troops are STILL over there carrying out their missions being shot at, etcetera!

4. Finally, in the end, whatever ''deal'' he makes, I''m sure it will only complicate matters and result in ongoing casualities and financial loss!

P.S.- I notice my copy is underlayed in red, perhaps for a copy to be fwd to U.S. intel organizations? Has anyone else noticed this---yet?!

[donnie10005]

Whats a cast system?

[dkhorse1]

I agree that America should get out of Iraq, only because those people suck. I%u2019d gladly pay $10 a gallon for gas.
%u201CI hate you because my first cousin was related to Muhammad.%u201D
%u201CI hate you, you filthy pig because Muhammad was related to my uncle, die%u201D
LAME. Let them kill each other, save American lives.
Ignorance is everywhere, but if it where regional, the Middle East is the heart.

[joe_transit]

"The dates could be adjusted if security and political progress in Iraq deteriorate."

That kind of takes the wind out of the sail.

If all nations acted like Bush did and McSame wants to, we would be in world war three. We are not the worlds police, we are not teachers or liberators, we have become servants to Iraq. They have made us fools. The Iraqi''s lack the knowledge, desire, skills, and abilities to do it on their own. When Americans leave, Iraq will return to being the vast manure field it always has been and always will be. We all know the true value of Iraq in under ground. The ground surface is just in the way.

I have been to Iraq. The people are filthy (they literally stink), narrow minded and pompous. They can not be trusted. Woman are second class. I can''t print what the feel and say about Americans, but it is not good. We are wasting time and money with them. The entire country is not worth the life of one American.

If I wrote the checks, I''d invest in countries and in peoples who share a similar ideology. People who have the ability to appreciate, reciprocate and communicate. Most of all in people who actually wanted us and had the ability to stand on their own. Like Georgia.

[excoachken]

Even if Obama does not get elected, he has ALREADY changed Bush''s foreign policy. Now, if we can make a dent in the Caste System that the Cowardly Cowboy''s economic policies have created, we can all be winners!

Bush is defeated in Iraq, he is being thrown out.

Saint Petreaus himself said any gains seen in Iraq are "fragile and reversible".

Bush lied going in and he''s sure lying coming out.