Iraqi Leaders Call for Military Exit Schedule

ap via foxnews.com ^ | November 22, 2005

[paudio]

CAIRO, Egypt — Leaders of Iraq's sharply divided Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis called Monday for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces in the country and said Iraq's opposition had a "legitimate right" of resistance.

The final communique, hammered out at the end of three days of negotiations at a preparatory reconciliation conference under the auspices of the Arab League, condemned terrorism, but was a clear acknowledgment of the Sunni position that insurgents should not be labeled as terrorists if their operations do not target innocent civilians or institutions designed to provide for the welfare of Iraqi citizens.

[rhombus]

So, let's not fret too much about what the media thinks. They don't seem to realize that we can 'lose the battle' for Iraq, and still win the war.

I wouldn't be so hopeful about winning the war if the battle for Iraq were lost. While it's true that we still won the cold war after losing Vietnam (with the help of the MSM), I'd be quite discouraged about this war's progress after a MSM-inspired defeat in Iraq that could lead to lots of nasty scenarios. The main difference between a premature exit from Vietnam and one from Iraq is that the Islamofascists will pursue.

[Dark Skies]

A successful Iraqi republic, set in the heart of the dysfunctional Arab world, will be eat away at the core of medival Islam like acid.

I like the way you put that, but is not the opposite true as well. Will medieval islam just toss in the towel...or will it undertake to subvert the newly democratic Iraq just as it does the rest of the world?

[Steel Wolf]

The question remaining is what kind of permanent military footprint do we have in Iraq starting in 2007. A few good airbases, a few good army and marine bases would be about right.

Perhaps a major base in each major region of the country, away from populated areas. We could get it down to 3 or 4 large hubs easily. From there, we could provide the Iraqi military and police with all the air, intelligence, logistics, and training they'd ever need.

It's a win/win scenario for everyone. We'll stop taking casualties and the Iraqis will get their country back. The insurgents, on the other hand, will be stuck in rebellion against an Arab government, not a foriegn army.

[conservativecorner]

So we have the President of Iraq and other government officials as well as all 3 political groups at a meeting where they refuse to acknowledge those killing American Troops as terrorists, and we shouldn't signal that this is completely unacceptable?

The timetable is of no concern I agree, but this declaration concerning the terrorists is new and very dangerous in this part of the world. If we let this communique stand, we are slapping our own military in the face. No other way around it. Bring them home!

[Americanexpat]

And why did all three groups come up with this horse shit? Because they are Muslims and we are infidels in their eyes. It is acceptable to kill Americans they only became concerned when the terrorists started killing other Iraqis.

I can tell you from my 14 months working in the country that up until the Al Qaieda started killing Iraqis the terrorists and shias thought they were heroes.

I believe any timetable of withdrawal should be on our terms and once we agree with one it should be publicized that it is within the wishes of the Iraqi government to stop the terrorists and liberals of lying and say we were run out of Iraq.

[Liberty Valance]

bttt

[sure_fine]

2050, that should cycle the population

[USF]

Thanks DS... My thoughts too.

[rhombus]

If we let this communique stand, we are slapping our own military in the face. No other way around it. Bring them home!

OK I condemn it but it ain't time to "bring them home"... even with an exclamation point.

[ALWAYSWELDING]

This is just politics before the election. They'll shut their trap after it. Doesn't come at a good time though. They could at least understand what's going on over here.

[conservativecorner]

Thank you for your service first off, and I agree with you 100% concerning arabs and muslims. The timetable question can be answered very quickly. Call the President if Iraq, and tell the basturd that we are leaving on such and such date unless there is a coorection made to the communique. Why lose 1 more soldier when these rag heads can't call our militarys killers "terrorists"?

[Steel Wolf]

So, let's not fret too much about what the media thinks. They don't seem to realize that we can 'lose the battle' for Iraq, and still win the war.

I wouldn't be so hopeful about winning the war if the battle for Iraq were lost.

I wouldn't either, but we're not actually losing (hence the quotes around 'lose the battle'). The media will try and portray, for domestic political purposes, that the Democrats demanded a withdrawl, we withdrew, ergo, the Democrats won.

Let them think that all they want. History will prove them wrong.

The real battle is for Iraq's future, not to maintain the U.S. occupation indefinitely. The Democrats can pretend that once we pull out, we lose, but that's not the case. We win or lose defined by the success of the Iraqi government to function as a moderate republic. The Democrats are opposing what they percieve our victory conditions to be, not our real ones.

[Thombo2]

"With islam,there must be war,and there can be only one winner."I agree."Either real islam comes to dominate...or it is defeated and expunged."I prefer "defeated and expunged".Over the last couple yrs,with all that has gone on,what i've read,etc,etc,i've come to the conclusion that islam,and Christian/Judeo(aka civilized)society's simply can't peacefully coexist.

[al_c]

While it may not be the correct path, at least they're participating (finally) in a plan to bring this to an end.

[Blood of Tyrants]

It still has to be handled diplomatically. You deal with this group but make it clear that the government to be elected next month is the final arbitor.

[conservativecorner]

Then you understand that you have just given the "militants", remember they aren't "terrorists", the right to kill American Troops with the sanction of the Iraqi Government. I don't know any other way to look at this, and if we let this stand, it will cause problems not only in Iraq, but in Afghanistan and other middle eastern countries. We must be very clear on this point. The days of trying to define a "terrorist" are over. We know who they are.

[rhombus]

The real battle is for Iraq's future, not to maintain the U.S. occupation indefinitely. The Democrats can pretend that once we pull out, we lose, but that's not the case. We win or lose defined by the success of the Iraqi government to function as a moderate republic. The Democrats are opposing what they percieve our victory conditions to be, not our real ones.

Agreed. But the media is one front on this war and one we should not ignore. Vietnam was a loss not because we pulled out but because we cut off aid and the South collapsed. A MSM inspired, Democrat controlled legislature could do the same thing a couple of years down the road. That coupled with an Iranian invation... This would leave a lot of people saying it wasn't worth it, we should mind our own business, etc. Of course that's only one scenario. I'm agreeing wholeheartedly with what you are writing, I'm just pointing out that MSM spin should not be ignored but addressed head-on.

[Steel Wolf]

I like the way you put that, but is not the opposite true as well. Will medieval islam just toss in the towel...or will it undertake to subvert the newly democratic Iraq just as it does the rest of the world?

They will indeed. The vast majority of Iraqis have no desire to wind up with a theocratic goverment like Iran. So long as Iraq remains a republic, it won't. As in the rest of the world, the extremists are a small, small percentage of the population. Sunnis may be willing to sit back and let the wack jobs do their dirty work for them, as far as fighting the foriegn invaders, but they have no intention of letting them actually run the government.

There is a certain nationalistic / Arab pride that many Sunnis feel when they see us attacked. That's why a blind eye is turned towards them. Once we're out of the picture, the dynamic changes entirely. If we were conqured by the Soviets, and you saw gang members fighting them in the streets, you'd feel the same way. Still, once the Soviets pulled out, you wouldn't vote in a Crip or Blood as mayor. Same principal involved here, as well.

[rhombus]

OK what's your advice?

[conservativecorner]

I have already given my advise concerning this debacle at least twice in my posts.