Posted on 06/16/2006 7:21:06 AM PDT by dead
Iraq's deputy prime minister says Iraq has an agreement to take over security responsibilities from Australian, British and Japanese forces in southern Iraq this month.
Deputy Prime Minister Salam Zikam Ali al-Zubaie was responding to a Japanese news report that Australia, British and Japanese troops will transfer security responsibilities in southern Iraq to Iraqi authorities next week, and soon withdraw from the area.
"There is an agreement to take over the security responsibilities from the British, Australian and Japanese forces in southern Iraq during this month," al-Zubaie said.
"There is such a plan and such news is not based on nothing. We hope that the Iraqi security forces will live up to their duties there. It is the dream of all Iraqis that our forces will handle security issues all over Iraq."
At a defence meeting of the three countries last week in London, British officials told their counterparts that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will announce the transfer of security authority in southern Iraq next Tuesday, Kyodo News agency reported, citing coalition sources.
London will then announce the pullout of its forces from the southern province of Al Muthanna, and Tokyo and Australia will follow with similar announcements, Kyodo said.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is expected to announce a pullout by Japan from the southern city of Samawah as early as next Wednesday, Japanese government and ruling coalition sources said.
Australia is expected to announce plans to pull its forces out of the area the same day.
The withdrawal of Japanese troops is likely to begin later this month and may be completed by the end of July, the sources said.
Officials in the Iraqi prime minister's media office said they could not confirm or deny the report.
Al-Zubaie said he knew nothing about plans for such an announcement and could provide no other details.
Australia has around 460 troops in southern Iraq, where they have been protecting Japanese forces engaged in rebuilding efforts since 2004.
Some Australian troops are expected to be redeployed to the basic training centre at Tallil, near An Nasiriyah in Dhi Qar Province, as well as the Counter Insurgency Academy at Taji, near Baghdad, training Iraqi and coalition troops in tactics to defeat the insurgency.
AP/Kyodo
OMG!! This has to be Bush's fault again!
Let's not kid ourselves. The media will likely portray it as something like Bush's already small coalition grows smaller.
Either way, it's bad news.
;-)
Have no fear, the media will engineer a retreat out of it.
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.
Imagine reading this line 60 years ago. Isn't it amazing what democracy and the judicious use of force can accomplish?
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.
Bravo Zulu for the fine fighting forces of Australia, Japan, and Great Britain.
The MSM/Dems will say Bush is losing support, allies are pulling out, blah, blah, blah....
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.
Outstanding!
BUMP
It's a quagmire I tell ya! A QUAGMIRE!!!!
Where's the plan dammit?
LMAO
"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.
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.
I understand that they are redeploying elsewhere.
Don't worry, they'll start interviewing themselves any time now.
Of course, they have a vested interest in the US losing.
It's a quagmire I tell ya, it's a quagmire!
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