Nouri al-Maliki and George Bush at a press conference last year. Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPA
Posted on 01/18/2007 6:02:35 AM PST by TexKat
The US has also today come in for unprecedented criticism from the Iraqi Prime Minister. He has told a UK newspaper that he wishes that Baghdad could receive strong messages of support from the US. Nuri al-Maliki said Iraq's need for US troops could fall in three to six months if Washington equipped Iraqi security forces with sufficient weapons. He is also reported to have told an Italian paper that President Bush has never been in a weaker position than he is today. He is quoted as saying that it is the administration in Washington facing demise, not the Iraqi government.
Meanwhile, at least 10 people have been killed and 25 wounded in a series of car bombings in Baghdad today. The attacks come as Iraqi officials prepare to launch a security crackdown in the capital. At least 120 people were killed in bombings yesterday and on Tuesday.
Maliki: U.S. could cut forces in months
BAGHDAD, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- The United States could cut troop levels in Iraq in months if it provided sufficient guns and equipment to Iraq, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said.
Maliki told the London Times U.S. reluctance to supply such items has cost many Iraqi lives and prolonged the insurgency in Iraq.
The United States has been wary of handing over large amounts of military equipment to Iraqis, the newspaper said, because it often ends up in the hands of insurgents and militias.
"If we succeed in implementing the agreement between us to speed up the equipping and providing weapons to our military forces," Maliki told the newspaper, "I think that within three to six months our need for American troops will dramatically go down."
Maliki said Iraq would benefit from "strong messages of support" from the United States, suggesting that criticism gives support to terrorists.
"I believe that such statements give moral boosts to the terrorists and push them towards making an extra effort and making them believe that they have defeated the American administration," he said, "but I can tell you that they haven't defeated the Iraqi government."
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20070118-121902-4204r
For the most part, they've received just that. Now that the 'Rats are in control, however, all bets are off. That isn't the President's fault, unless he caves in too.
Nouri al-Maliki and George Bush at a press conference last year. Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPA
ROME Iraq's prime minister is blaming the security crisis in his country on the Americans.
Nouri al-Maliki (NOO'-ree ahl-MAHL'-ih-kee) says Iraqi forces would have had better control over their country if the U-S had equipped them with better weapons and more of them. In an interview published today in Italy, the Iraqi chief stops short of criticizing President Bush's plan to send in more than 21-thousand additional troops. But he says things would be a lot better if the U-S had properly supplied his forces from the start. He says there would have been a lot fewer Iraqi and U-S deaths.
But al-Maliki also holds out hope that the situation in Iraq "will drastically improve" because of the U-S buildup, clearing the way for American troops to start leaving "in three to six months."
what horsefeathers! Such turbulent air!
Iraq wants the weapons, has sided with Iran, give them weapons and they'll kill americans. Let their oil revenue buy the infrastructure, social goods, utilities, policing and weapons. Why should it all be at the expense of Uncle Sam?
Is this true?
If this is TRUE...then we're just there now trying to prop up a hapless bunch, and should get out and let them figure out how to fight for their own freedom (assuming they even want that).
If this is NOT TRUE...then why DON'T WE DO JUST THAT and let them FIGHT FOR THEIR OWN FREEDOM against their own terrorists!
Prime Minister Maliki: Kgetting guns from the US and then using them to kill off your political enemies, the Sunni's, and to pay off old debts in order to achieve 'peace' is not democracy. This would be called 'Saddam Hussein' Part II. As a world leader, you are required to act like a humanatarian who believes in basic human rights etc etc.
I'm sure President Bush would gladly give you guys weapons if he thought you were an honorable world leader. The politcal benefit alone would be well worth it.
Instead of being a grateful man, leading a grateful nation, you choose to put a stick in the eye of the principles of freedom and humaity. You're leadership will expose the entire Arab world to ridicule as it will prove inself completely incapable of reasoned non-violent politcal dialogue.
The next time the US comes back (2-5 yrs from now because of some out of control whack-job), it will likely be with much more anger and resolve. For that time it will not be in the name of humanity. It will be in the name of victory. And, this victory will be very painful to the entire middle east....
Someone here claims that Iraq had 70,000 tanks that are now just mising. Let them buy their own weapons. They have money.
Meaning, if we arm his Shiite militia friends and let them wipe out the Sunnis, the problem will be solved. Uh...no thanks.
I have no doubt there are Iraqis who are good and just, and want very much to a establish a real, functioning democracy in their country.
I just think US analysts greatly overestimated their numbers prior to the invasion.
Same goes for Iran, which seems to have passionate advocates for reform everywhere among its expatriate community - but when you look closer they are dwarfed by the number of poor Iranians who back the mullahs.
The little Iraqi government will last maybe two weeks once we leave.
And Then what? Before you suggest something you should always ask "And then what?".
Call me a bigot but enough is enough!
I won't call you one, I will say you've not thought this out. It appears to me that you're reacting emotionally, never a good idea, when dealing with geo-politics.
to act as if we should stay in a place we are not wanted....
We're not?
Nothing wrong with emotion. But emotions must always be kept on a very short leash, they do interfere with clear thought..
Al-Maliki fiddled for so long while Bagdad burned and now he wants to blame Bush. Maybe the same thing will happen to Al-Maliki that happened to Nero.
the fiddling is an intentional sideshow to drain Uncle Sam's resources. The poor bastards think America is worndown , which is real funny. Sure, you have the leftists and the dems that have contributed to the shaping of public opinion. One more 9-11 and the parties WILL come together and there will be biblical proportioned events!
I was jokingly suggesting to some acquaintances that if Cocoa Cola wanted to go to war, they could marshall more resources than Iraq. Iran and the mideast have no knowledge of what exists over here.... the bredth and depth of capital.
He has told a UK newspaper that he wishes that Baghdad could receive strong messages of support from the US. Nuri al-Maliki said Iraq's need for US troops could fall in three to six months if Washington equipped Iraqi security forces with sufficient weapons.IOW, Maliki is a nut job. An insulting nut job. The Iraqi gov't can barely be trusted to protect its own police stations and politicians, and won't crack down on extralegal paramilitaries who just happen to be (supposedly) on its side. In addition, the US has shed blood there for years.
Maliki said Iraq would benefit from "strong messages of support" from the United States, suggesting that criticism gives support to terrorists.
"I believe that such statements give moral boosts to the terrorists and push them towards making an extra effort and making them believe that they have defeated the American administration," he said, "but I can tell you that they haven't defeated the Iraqi government.
These are not criticisms against President Bush, but against the anti-war POLITICIANS and ENEMEDIA personnel.
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