You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Iraq
War goes on despite US drawdown
2010-08-30
BAGHDAD - US President Barack Obama's message this weekend that Iraq would 'chart its own course' may have been welcome news for war-weary Americans, but it has fuelled anxieties about the future among Iraqis.

'The war is not ending. The war against terrorism continues here,' Nuri Al Moussawi, a 51-year-old Baghdad resident, said. Obama said on Saturday the end of US combat operations on Tuesday, and a fall in US troop numbers to 50,000, helped fulfil a promise he made during the 2008 presidential campaign to end the 7-1/2-year war launched by his predecessor, George W. Bush.

But the failure of Iraqi leaders to form a new government almost six months after elections, and persistent attacks by insurgents, have done little to instil confidence among Iraqis.
It's about time for the American ambassador to call the various parties into his compound and crack some heads. Quietly. Let the Iraqi pols keep their pride but get a government in place.
I'm fond of J.P. MOrgan's approach: lock them all in a room without bathrooms, and don't let them out until they come up with an acceptable solution.
'The American withdrawal is hasty. The capabilities of our army have not been built yet,' Moussawi said.

Like many Iraqis, Moussawi has little faith in the abilities of Iraq's 660,000-strong police and army to protect the country. Suspected Sunni Islamist insurgents have put the domestic security forces to the test, killing 57 at an army recruitment centre on Aug. 17 and more than 60 when suicide car bombers attacked police stations around the country on Aug. 25.

But 50,000 US soldiers will remain in Iraq up to an end-2011 deadline set in a bilateral security pact Bush signed with the Iraqi government just before departing the White House.

'Those who say the war in Iraq is ending are committing a mistake' said Hassan bin Hachim 62, an Iraqi day labourer. 'The war will not end unless a real partnership government is formed that includes all the parties, and doesn't marginalise any of the parties.'
Posted by:Steve White

#3  At least they get two sources. How many American newspapers do that these days?
Posted by: Steve White   2010-08-30 12:59  

#2  A typical day at the Khaleej Times news desk;

Editor: WhoÂ’s your source on this one?

Reporter: Nuri.

Editor: Who?

Reporter: Nuri Al MoussawiÂ…heÂ’s a resident of Bagdad.

Editor: HmmmÂ…anybody else?

Reporter: YeahÂ… Hassan bin HachimÂ…heÂ’s a day labourer.

Editor: Whoakay thenÂ…run with it.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2010-08-30 09:51  

#1  STRATEGYPAGE > [Combat Advisor roles] ELEVEN US COMBAT BRIGADES STILL IN IRAQ.

Uh, uh, COMBAT-ORIENTED, HEAVILY ARMED-SUPPOR NON-COMBATANTS???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2010-08-30 01:14  

00:00