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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

Then it is time to move out and prepare to defend Israel. Enough of this bull! The little Iraqi government will last maybe two weeks once we leave. Open up the Gulf, Alaska, and other tapped areas and be done with this insanity. Make it harder for Muslims to get VISAS and let's move on.
Call me a bigot but enough is enough!

-"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."

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!

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.

Meaning, if we arm his Shiite militia friends and let them wipe out the Sunnis, the problem will be solved. Uh...no thanks.

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.

OTOH, after Iran is liberated, the need for a US presence will be obviated.

Clearly Maliki and his cronies as well as associates removed a bit by party affiliations/splits, are all a bunch of screw ups when it comes to taking a firm control of the whole situation.
Since Bremer entered the scene, their attempts(?) at finding good leadership has waned. Those few that probably could somehow with a strong hand but fairness (to all give/take), such as Allawi are keeped out of the key circuit.
But I say nothing most of us are not keenly aware of.
However. A few months back, e.g. November, I had commented on a few posts, that we must give them time. If they start to perform (benchmarks and making it clear the militias had to go one way or another), then perhaps in the next few months we might start seeing some progress.
It now appears reasonable to assume the IG has embraced the idea there is no way out but to disband the militias either by force or verifiable agreements.
Of course the IG for the most part are in unison with the Coalition as far as removing remenant al Qaeda and some Sunni derived trouble makers.
Perhaps he is posturing at this point to make it look like the IG is gong ho, and ready to do battle with their enemies. Therefore feels encumbant to use strong talk.
Maliki if he has been really keeped abreast of this new army and police must understand they are not yet ready to assume heavy mobile armored divisions and take over.
They are mostly reliant on us to supply aging vehicles and mobile weapons. If he really expects us to give him all the stuff sitting around while our guys are left without their primary systems, then he must be a bit niave.