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| Iraq |
| Iraq insists on withdrawal timetable |
| 2008-07-08 |
| Iraq's national security adviser said Tuesday his country will not accept any security deal with the United States unless it contains specific dates for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces. 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. President 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 statement. 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 said. 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. 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. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #6 I forgot what I was going to say. |
| Posted by: Jager Bluetooth5233 2008-07-17 22:29 |
| #5 I forgot what I was going to say. |
| Posted by: Deadeye Ulump2048 2008-07-17 22:24 |
| #4 OK. Let's pick up and get out. Really. We went in to get rid of Saddam Hussein. We stayed to give the Iraqis a chance at a decent society. We accomplished our objectives. They want us out? More than fine. I would be glad to go. |
| Posted by: Some guy 2008-07-08 23:02 |
| #3 I believe that talk is more for internal consumption during the provincial elections than any reality. First of all, the US doesn't have a crystal ball and can't say that on some future date the conditions will be such that it is in Iraq's interest for us to withdraw our troops. What if that date comes and Iraq doesn't want withdrawal? But most importantly, I believe the document is pretty much finished and is being reviewed by the assembly. It is my understanding that the cabinet has already approved it. |
| Posted by: crosspatch 2008-07-08 13:49 |
| #2 "Insisting', eh? Tell them "Okay. We start leaving tomorrow". Just to see their jaws hit the floor. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-07-08 13:23 |
| #1 '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 said. Feeding hand, please meet arrogant biting dog. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-07-08 12:07 |