Iraq to take over the south's security: deputy PM (Aussie, Brit, & Japanese pulling troops!)

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | June 16, 2006 - 7:17PM

[dead]

This seems like some MAJOR good news to me, largely being ignored in the US.

[JerseyDvl]

OMG!! This has to be Bush's fault again!

[conservativehusker]

Great news..but the Dems have already set themselves up to capitalize (short terms anyway) on any of these moves.."See we want the troops out and we are being listened to.".it will be a while before the world sees Iraq as a victory...short term the Dems can be the Rooster who claims the sun comes up because of his crowing...

[Coop]

Let's not kid ourselves. The media will likely portray it as something like Bush's already small coalition grows smaller.

[Dr. Frank fan]

You don't work in the media do you? Everyone knows that if foreign troops are there, it's bad news because it means Iraqis aren't standing up for themselves (from which you can conclude that they don't care about their own security, therefore we might as well pull out). Meanwhile, if foreign troops pull out, it's also bad news because it means the Coalition is breaking apart and Bush is losing support, and therefore we should pull out.

Either way, it's bad news.

;-)

[cripplecreek]

Have no fear, the media will engineer a retreat out of it.

[LSUfan]

Note that the Aussies are staying and being redeployed elsewhere. The Japanese are basically engineers with little or no combat role. I think this is only a portion of the Brit force, not their entire force.

This is good news. It is not a withdrawal from Iraq. It is the Iraqis standing up and taking over for themselves.

[Former Proud Canadian]

Australia has around 460 troops in southern Iraq, where they have been protecting Japanese forces engaged in rebuilding efforts since 2004.

Imagine reading this line 60 years ago. Isn't it amazing what democracy and the judicious use of force can accomplish?

[ChinaThreat]

I really do believe a corner has been turned. Perserverance and patience are paying off. The cut and runners are going to have a great deal of egg on their face. But then, who ever holds the left to their words and actions....certainly not our MSM. They will make excuses.

[Maigrey]

That should politically bump those countrys' PM by a factor of 10!

Bravo Zulu for the fine fighting forces of Australia, Japan, and Great Britain.

[rightinthemiddle]

The MSM/Dems will say Bush is losing support, allies are pulling out, blah, blah, blah....

[SkyPilot]

The MSM can try all they want to manufacture this is a defeat, and some can try all they want to take credit for the "pull out" - but to no avail.

GW Bush will be the one everyone knows stood firm, and in the end, he will be the hero of establishing a democratic regime right smack in the heart of the volatile middle east. For this, he will go down in history as a hero.

Robert Novak wrote that Bush will be recorded as one of our most courageous Presidents. It is relatively easy for a leader to fight a war with domestic support behind him. It is much harder to defeat a foreign foe while having to battle traitors in your midst as well.

[Constitution Day]

Outstanding!

BUMP

[DoughtyOne]

It's a quagmire I tell ya! A QUAGMIRE!!!!

Where's the plan dammit?


LMAO

[traderrob6]

"As the Iraqi security forces stand up, we will stand down". That has been the plan from the start and it's playing out per script. As Kerry, Murtha, Pelosi etc. hysterically rant about immediate redeployment and deadlines, the Iraqi people are steadily taking over the reponsibility for their own security. Just another example how things ultimately work when adults are in charge.

[Straight Vermonter]

The Japanese are leaving because the rebuilding work they came for is done. The Brits, and Aussie will redeploy in Iraq, they are not leaving.

[dead]

As the article says, the British and Australians are pulling out of the southern Iraq because their work there is done.

I understand that they are redeploying elsewhere.

[randog]

Have no fear, the media will engineer a retreat out of it.

Don't worry, they'll start interviewing themselves any time now.

[JerseyDvl]

Of course, they have a vested interest in the US losing.

[b4its2late]

It is good news and you're right. The drive by media will ignore it.

It's a quagmire I tell ya, it's a quagmire!