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2005-11-22 Iraq

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Posted by Bobby 2005-11-22 06:18|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1
Sunni leaders have been pressing the Shiite-majority government to agree to a timetable for the withdrawal of all foreign troops. The statement recognized that goal, but did not lay down a specific time â reflecting instead the government's stance that Iraqi security forces must be built up first.

Sounds more like they support Bush's plan, which is to withdraw US troops as Iraqi troops can take over the job.

Posted by Robert Crawford">Robert Crawford 2005-11-22 08:32|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2005-11-22 08:32|| Front Page Top

#2 Right, RC. It depends on whether you believe the original headline - "Iraqi Leaders Call for Pullout Timetable" - or mine (a variation of the original, with a touch of irony/sarcasm), or if you read the whole article and form your own opinion!

Posted by Bobby 2005-11-22 08:44|| 2005-11-22 08:44|| Front Page Top

#3 At this point, we should all remember that many of the Iraqi "leaders" are basically self-appointed, based on being connected insiders.

In about a month, for the first time, Iraq will have a fully democratic government. And I suspect that it will have some major policy differences from the government in place right now.

This is not to say that the current leaders are no good, that is not true, just that they cannot truly claim to represent "the Iraqi street".

With a loose analogy, you could say that the current government are like a "blue state" government in the US; whereas the soon-to-be-elected government will be a "red state", government.

This is especially true in the Sunni areas, where I will not be surprised if after the elections, Sunni organizations like "the influential association of Muslim scholars", win no power at all.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-11-22 09:39|| 2005-11-22 09:39|| Front Page Top

#4 Link for this?

Posted by Pappy 2005-11-22 12:10|| 2005-11-22 12:10|| Front Page Top

#5 1) What's the source for this? The link is circular.

2) This is the Cairo conference, under the aegis of the Arab League. As such, it is in no way authoritative or binding, as I understand things.

3) Talabani has been a little shaky on the whole occupation thing, which is essentially harmless because he's a head of state, and doesn't have any day-to-day power as I understand things.

4) Whoop de fucking do. A bunch of self-appointed clowns sponsored by the Arab tyrants sorta agree that it'd be nice if there weren't Americans and British and other icky types in Mesopotamia. What, you expected them to agitate in favor of a long-term committment? The Sunni haven't figured out that they're going to all kick heels if we leave them alone with a mostly-Shia-and-Kurdish army. The Kurds and the Shia, on the other hand, are starting to twig to this eventuality.

Posted by Mitch H.">Mitch H. 2005-11-22 13:07|| http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/]">[http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/] 2005-11-22 13:07|| Front Page Top

#6 Reaching out to the Sunni Arab community, Iraqi leaders called for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces and said Iraq's opposition had a "legitimate right" of resistance.

A heart warming gratitude.

Posted by gromgoru 2005-11-22 15:07|| 2005-11-22 15:07|| Front Page Top

#7 RC is correct. This is closer to the GOP Senate resolution than to an exit timetable.

Its important to the Sunnis to get a promise that there wont be a PERMANENT US presence. The Iraqi govt is ready to offer that, but not a promise for a withdrawl until Iraqi forces are ready.

Posted by liberalhawk 2005-11-22 15:10|| 2005-11-22 15:10|| Front Page Top

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