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| Iraq |
| Iraq May Hold Vote On U.S. Withdrawal |
| 2009-08-18 |
| U.S. troops could be forced by Iraqi voters to withdraw a year ahead of schedule under a referendum the Iraqi government backed Monday, creating a potential complication for American commanders concerned about rising violence in the country's north. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's move appeared to disregard the wishes of the U.S. government, which has quietly lobbied against the plebiscite. American officials fear it could lead to the annulment of an agreement allowing U.S. troops to stay until the end of 2011, and instead force them out by the start of that year. The Maliki government's announcement came on the day that the top U.S. general in Iraq proposed a plan to deploy troops to disputed areas in the restive north, a clear indication that the military sees a continuing need for U.S. forces even if Iraqis no longer want them here. |
| Posted by:Sherry |
| #9 gee... i thought that vote was about flushing national sovereignty down the drain |
| Posted by: abu do you love 2009-08-18 23:04 |
| #8 I thought the US already held a vote on Iraq withdrawl late last year? |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2009-08-18 19:59 |
| #7 What will Bambi do if the Iraqis vote that they want us to stay? |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-08-18 19:48 |
| #6 Well, Maliki seems to want us out. But then he's Shiite. And bombings in the north are mainly hitting Sunnis. |
| Posted by: lotp 2009-08-18 19:20 |
| #5 Two points: 1) we said originally that we'd stay until the Iraqis told us that they could carry the ball. That time is approaching. Why be upset? 2) the Iraqis may want us out for any number of reasons including weariness and national pride, but they may also be thinking that Bambi is going to pull the rug from under them. Can't blame them for wanting to get ahead of the game. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2009-08-18 18:31 |
| #4 Lesson: when one conducts a factor analysis, don't leave out major factors. And never use national energy to drive elite rhetoric. If I may add yet another lesson. "Nation Building"... quite similar to losing one's bladder in dark suit. You get a nice warm feeling, but no one notices. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-08-18 15:37 |
| #3 All that US equipment, including a huge US military airport north of Baghdad, all just sitting there. And with a belligerent Iran, willing and able to finish off Sunni remnants in Iraq. Just call it successful nation-building, and leave. That is leave, with enormous logistical resource problems, and the memory of nearly 4000 war dead and the reality of caring for tens of thousands more wounded. Then there is the matter of weighing debt incidence v assets. Lesson: when one conducts a factor analysis, don't leave out major factors. And never use national energy to drive elite rhetoric. |
| Posted by: Sheger McGurque5408 2009-08-18 15:02 |
| #2 Mutants. |
| Posted by: GirlThursday 2009-08-18 14:23 |
| #1 The Maliki government's announcement came on the day that the top U.S. general in Iraq proposed a plan to deploy troops to disputed areas in the restive north. What an amazing coincidence. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-08-18 13:23 |