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.

[T. P. Pole]

BTW, that AP story is actually rather informative, if you ignore the editorials.

The leaders agreed on "calling for the withdrawal of foreign troops according to a timetable, through putting in place an immediate national program to rebuild the armed forces ... control the borders and the security situation" and end terror attacks.

See, their plan is the same as President Bush's - once they can take care of it themselves, they want us to leave.

[cake_crumb]

You're WAY overreacting. The communique doesn't give any permission of the sort and the Iraqi people are well aware that more of them are being killed by TERRORISTS than coalition troops.

[conservativecorner]

arrogant? Lip service? Give it a break. It's very clear what they were proclaiming, and I don't care whether they meant it or not. It's now out there for the world to see. I'm sick of listening to this horse shit from people who would still be under Saddam's boot but for the United States. I'm all for staying and finishing the job, so long as we understand that no one, be they terrorists or militants, can have the approval of the Government of Iraq to kill American soldiers.

You living in Lebanon for 22 years during a Civil War should of taught you more than this. There are only two groups in Arab culture, the weak and the strong. The weak will be killed by the strong, and no one will care. 22 years of this in your life should of taught you this.

[George W. Bush]

This isn't a surprise.

At some point, any occupied country wants their country back and their own leaders making decisions. Whether that's particularly wise is another question and the motives many of these 'leaders' have may be suspect. But the inclination toward home rule is easily understood.

Get the police and military trained. Withdraw to the desert bases, ready to protect the Kurds and step in if the Sunnis and Shia get out of hand with each other.

[ohioWfan]

Unbelievable!

Do a google on the names al Farabi, al Ghazali and al Kindi, and see what you learn about these 'animals'...........just for starters.

[ohioWfan]

More overreaction based on an MSM report.

[angkor]

The conference was attended by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Shiite and Kurdish lawmakers, as well as leading Sunni politicians.

Yet it still doesn't represent the wishes of the Iraqi government.

Think of it as a "bipartisan conference" of elected officials, but still operating outside of the force of the proposed Iraqi constitution.

It's an AP story, so muddying that fact (or failing to mention it) is standard procedure.

[cvq3842]

Agreed!

I s uppose the MSM will just ask the same question over and over, every day. "When are we leaving?" "WHEN THE JOB IS DONE!"

[conservativecorner]

You seem to be stuck on stupid? Can we do anything for you? You need the article translated into something like " phonics is fun" so that you actually understand what it all means?

[cake_crumb]

"It's now out there for the world to see"

The only ones making a big deal out of it is the lefty politicians and their pet media, which spins EVERYTHING against Bush in order to make Iraq look like The Next Vietnam, and a few gullible, fearful people who gobble up any "sky is falling" article as long as it coincides with their personal fears.

The officials at the conference said nothing the interim government hasn't said before. The only ones saying anything new are the SPINMEISTERS

[pnome]

If they say it's time for us to go, I say we go. Let them handle the rest. I'm sure they can handle it, with air support from us of course. Thier casualties will be high, no doubt, but it's thier choice.

[George W. Bush]

My concern is our fighting men and women. I have backed this JUST war from the beginning, so I don't need you throwing up one of your goofy signs. How frigging childish can you be? The point is that we have always had the backing of the Iraqi Govt. at every stage, and there was no disagreement concerning what constitutes a "terrorist".

I have locked horns with CC on some of these threads before. Suggesting that he is a Murtha clone is just way over the top. He (or she) is nothing of the sort. It's kind of incredible to see the accusation.

[ohioWfan]

Calm down, son. Wait to see what the Iraqi government says and does.

Until then, stop calling for our troops to come home. They won't like you.

They want VICTORY, and they will win it, if morons at home don't succeed in 'bringing them home.'

Honor their sacrifice. Complete the Mission.

[conservativecorner]

"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."

Is there some part of this you didn't understand?

[Paradox]

I am glad they want us out of there. The last thing we want is some weak kneed country that sits around begging for our help in quelling internal problems. I'm glad these people are showing a backbone in this respect.

As to the terrorists, I can understand this position as well. I think military targets are fair game. Now, I have problems with how the terrorists do that (using civilians, or civilian looking people), but its not the same as when they kill civilians.

[ohioWfan]

Way over the top? Then why did he call to 'bring them home' because of this article?

Maybe he/she needs to choose his/her words more carefully. Settling down emotionally will help. You know......use logic?

People who call for cutting and running do NOT support the troops.

[George W. Bush]

More overreaction based on an MSM report.

I think it's their reaction to the Murtha flap and Cheney's speech yesterday.

At some point, we should expect to hear the voices of Iraqi leadership. Just like in this country, free speech sometimes says things we don't like to hear.

I'm not suggesting it's time to pack up and flee the Mideast. But we should expect that if we're succeeding, at some point Iraqi leaders are going to start asserting their leadership. That is, if we have given them a free democracy and self-determination.

Young birds have to try their wings at some point. Our position with the Iraqis will inevitably be, just as the Founders' advice to us was: we gave you a free republic if you can keep it.

[ohioWfan]

Do you know who is saying this, corner? Do you know if they will have any authority in the future Iraqi government. (the answer is NO...you don't).

Getting emotionally overwrought as you are about this article is like assuming that what Howard Dean says is the position of the U.S. Government.

Settle down and think about it. Please?

[George W. Bush]

Way over the top? Then why did he call to 'bring them home' because of this article?

I read it as hyperbole.

People who call for cutting and running do NOT support the troops.

I think this is unfair to him/her. I've been on the receiving end of his/her opinions and I find a pretty gung-ho attitude there. I am, for instance, far more dovish than CC is. And I'm not so sure CC is advocating some cut-and-run policy either.

[No Blue States]

""Do not fear the enemy, for your enemy can only take your life. It is far better that you fear the media, for they will steal your HONOR. That awful power, the public opinion of a nation, is created in America by a horde of ignorant, self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditching and shoemaking and fetched up in journalism on their way to the poorhouse." -- Mark Twain