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Iraq
al-Maliki: US forces must withdraw by end of 2011
2011-04-25
BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: IraqÂ’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has informed the visiting U.S. Chief of Staff of the U.S. Forces, Admiral Mike Mullen, that the remaining American troops were to leave Iraq by the end of 2011, according to the Security Agreement, signed between the two countries in 2011, an Iraqi Legislature said on Sunday.

“There is an Agreement, concluded between Iraq and the United States, reiterating that the U.S. forces must leave Iraq by the end of 2011,” National Coalition MP, Ali al-Allaq, told Aswat al-Iraq news agency, adding that “the Prime Minister had informed the U.S. Chief of Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces, Admiral Mike Mullen, that the American forces must leave, according to the said Agreement, because there is no need for their presence, as the Iraqi forces are able to execute the security dossier.”
Um, okay, if you say so...
“Mike Mullen himself had announced that the Iraqi government had not informed him about the extension of the U.S. troops presence in Iraq, and that the talk about the extension is not necessary, with the presence of the Agreement,” Allaq said, adding that “all members of the National Coalition refuse the presence of the U.S. troops in Iraq and demand the departure of the last U.S. soldier, according to the said Agreement.
Posted by:Steve White

#7  ION NEWS KERALA > US LIKELY TO LEAVE 10,000 TROOPS IN IRAQ, as per on-going US, IGA negotiations.

ARTIC = The stay-behind US Mil Elements will help train, advise wid IGA, Armed Forces on Mil Unit training, Medical, Air Sovereignty, + MILTERR INTEL collection.

VERSUS

* DAILY TIMES.PK > AFGHAN POLICE [new Afghan Local Police Units, Org structure]STOKES FEAR OF NEXT-GENERATION MILITIA.

US fears that US-NATO trained, armed ALP could one day turn on it + post-US Withdrawal/WOT Afghan Govt. like many of the local Tribal Militias did after the Soviet pullout.

IMO, IRAQI OR AFGHAN IFF THE US-NATO TRAIN'EM RIGHT + DO RIGHT THEY WON'T; TRAIN'EM WRONG ANDOR ABUSE 'EM THEY WILL.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2011-04-25 22:10  

#6  Scooter, the geography looks like the game of Go. At the same time we flank Iran from Iraq and A'stan, our A'stn force is flanked by Iran and P'stan. And our Iraq force is becoming flanked by Iran and the rebellions in Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan & Egypt. Of course P'stan is flanked by our forces in A'stan and India.
Unlike Go, there are more than two sides; China, Russia, and 'One World Government' are watching and working with both sides to help them destroy each other.
Posted by: Glenmore   2011-04-25 07:58  

#5  Anyone with a map can see that Iraq covers Iran's left flank, and Afghanistan covers Iran's right flank. Anyone with any understanding of military tactics knows a position like that is a winning combo.

Of course Hussein Osama-Bama is eager to retreat instead of tightening the screws....

"Idiot" Bush set him up with a winning hand but Osama-Bama refuses to play it.
Posted by: Scooter McGruder   2011-04-25 03:21  

#4  It won't be a long life, Zhang Fei.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2011-04-25 02:51  

#3  I wouldn't be surprised if we were blamed for leaving, no matter what we're going to be blamed for something I'm sure of it.
Posted by: Spimble tse Tung2768   2011-04-25 01:18  

#2  Per AP, Maliki is using live ammo against demonstrators:

Iraqi officials say at least 11 people have been killed and dozens injured in a day of violent clashes across the country between security forces and demonstrators.

At least nine demonstrators were killed in separate clashes in three northern Iraqi cities during what was described as a "Day of Rage." In the western Anbar province at least two people were killed as security forces and demonstrators battled.


Putin was the tip of the iceberg. Bush has shown time and time again that he is a lousy judge of character. Maliki's antics were buried an avalanche of headlines about Egypt, but he appears to be an autocrat like the rest of his Middle Eastern counterparts:

Despite that, tens of thousands of Iraqis turned out for the protests, which began peacefully but degenerated as forces fired water cannons, sound bombs and live bullets to disperse crowds.

The death toll rose to at least 29 Saturday, as officials reported that six more protesters, including a 14-year-old boy, died from bullet wounds. The deaths were recorded in at least eight places, including Fallujah, Mosul and Tikrit.

Ssairi and his colleagues had joined the protests in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, some wrapping themselves in white sheets in a sign of peace. As the sun set, helicopters swooped down into the crowd, signaling the start of the crackdown.

Around 4 p.m., Aldiyar TV manager Fiysal Alyassiry, who had broadcast the demonstrations, reported that security forces had attacked the station, beat a worker, arrested seven people including a director and an anchorman, and closed the station.


It doesn't surprise me that this anti-American autocrat doesn't want us to stick around - it would interfere with his long term career aspirations.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2011-04-25 00:35  

#1  It would be amusing if we leave, and Maliki takes over as President-for-Life. Not that preventing this would be a reason to stay, of course.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2011-04-25 00:22  

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