[Jim Robinson]

How about tomorrow at noon?

[Norman Bates]

This is how they are going to push for an Obama victory. I can’t imagine why but that apparently is what they are up to.

[airborne]

Zebari sounds like a mouth piece for Iran.

Or Obama.

Or both.

[Steely Tom]

I’d like to get Russia’s reaction if Georga “demanded a clear timeline for withdrawal.” Just for curiosity’s sake.

[afortiori]

How is the first sentence of the AP story about a “timeline” related to the second about a suicide bomber?

Except more psy-ops from the AP and the enemy?

Or am I being redundant?

[I see my hands]

Sure thing. Now that we've reached a point of diminishing returns as far as terrorists running in front of our bullets let's leave the way we entered, i.e., a few days of shock and awe.

[FlingWingFlyer]

We’re done! We won. It’s time to go! NOW!

[cva66snipe]

Well they got their nation built, a sizable military we furnished as well. We gave them everything the Radical Islamic Cleric who will rule Iraq could ever ask for. He’[s gonna make Saddam look like a Choir Boy when the take over comes and it will happen whether we stay there 24 hours or 24 years. We are not going to change Iraq's culture or values which is not ours or anywhere close. We won the battle but Islam {radical} will rule Iraq now till the battle of battles comes in this world.

[benjamin032]

What the heck, it worked for Vietnam. Thanks for letting this topic even get on the table goes to the Dems.

[Recovering_Democrat]

This is LameStream Media hyperventilating. The FM is not the entire government of Iraq.

To put it another way, if the Iraqi media were like this, it would put headlines like this: “Americans Say They’ve Lost War in Iraq”...if they put that up after Harry Reid’s idiotic statement regarding the “war is lost”, they would be acting like the current U.S. media.

They’re in the tank, even after the successful surge, for defeat.

[Fast Moving Angel]

I don’t see that they’re in a position to demand anything. That said, I agree with the twenty-twenty proposition.

[DJ Elliott]

Pure political BS.

Some people have short memories. There are two decision points in the rotation pattern. September for reductions by end-year and March for reductions by end-July.

The timeline already exists and was briefed last September by General Petraius.
- 12 combat Brigades with half in overwatch and half partnered by end-2008.
- If things go well that changes to 10 combat Brigades in overwatch by July-2009.
- If they continue to go well then 7 combat Brigades in overwatch by end-2009.
- If still continue well, then 5 combat brigades covering the primary airbases by July-2010. Air cover by US necissary until 2019-2020 per the Iraqi MoD.

The negotiation is over how much slack on the decision points.

The decision in September to reduce to 12 has already been made. The three BCTs that are not being replaced have already been identified. One USMC RCT, 3/101 BCT, and 1/10 BCT. The alerted BCTs that would have replaced are going to Afghanistan instead.