PM: Iraqis can keep peace without U.S.

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

PM: Iraqis can keep peace without U.S.

By BUSHRA JUHI, Associated Press Writer
14 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saturday that the
Iraqi army and police are capable of keeping security in the country
when American troops leave "any time they want," though he
acknowledged the forces need further weapons and training.

The embattled prime minister sought to show confidence at a time
when pressure in the U.S. Congress is growing for a withdrawal
and the Bush administration reported little progress had been made
on the most vital of a series of political reforms it wants
al-Maliki to carry out.

-snip-

Al-Maliki made his first public comments on Thursday's White House
report on the reforms, saying his government needed time to enact
the political benchmarks that Washington seeks. He insisted it was
"fairly natural" that progress would be difficult considering the
violence in Iraq and the deep divisions among its leaders.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070714/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_070711194947

---

The article goes on to report Saturday's violence in Iraq
including the capture of a senior al-Qaeda figure.

[Kagemusha]

1. Wish someone would call his bluff then.

I know, I wish in vain, but still.

[okoboji]

2. ".....the forces need further weapons and training."

How much more training or weapons could they possibly need? Hasn't 4 years of training been enough? Haven't we already supplied them with the best?

[rodeodance]

3. the training involves turning over thousands of years of loyalty to tribes-and

this assumes the trainees even want to do this.

[rodeodance]

4. Come to think of it---- Malike is giving the perfect out to Bush--and is part

of the warner/Lugar bill---umm. wonder if he had a chat with Bush?

[qazplm]

9. seriously

IF he is interested in simply what he says, then yes this is the perfect out for everyone.

If the Iraqis then degrade into calamity you can say, hey THEY said they were ready, not our fault that they were wrong.

But this isn't about simply getting Iraq ready to take over, this is about establishing a permanent presence in Iraq.

I don't think it is going to happen in the long run, but it is what he is hoping for and fighting for.

[Buns_of_Fire]

5. Little do they know they're on Double Secret Probation

"When they stand up, we'll stand down."
"We'll leave whenever they want us to."

Sorry, those statements are no longer operative. We ain't going nowhere.

[CoffeeCat]

11. "Double Secret Probation"...

LOL!

...Maybe the next step in a new Iraqi strategy will begin with
Cheney at a Walmart asking, "May I have ten-thousand marbles please?".

[IndianaGreen]

15. Is that double secret probation like in Animal House?

You know how the movie ended....

[Miss Chybil]

6. Ok. I'll go along with that! nt

[mede8er]

7. Hooray!!!

We won....now let's get out.....

[peacetalksforall]

8. Keep the peace? Keep? First PNAC has to let them gain peace

then comes the keeping.

[CoffeeCat]

10. This is a major statement and a HUGE article...

This Yahoo link to the story has this headline: : "Iraq PM: Country
Can Manage Without U.S.

It seems to me that al-Maliki is saying, "Thanks for destroying our
country, but I think we can handle the rest by ourselves. I think
he's politely telling us that it's time to go.

Noooooooooooooooo? Ya don't say?

Link to Yahoo story with different headline...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070714/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_ylt=AoJqUpUNaLrbGRCfpRhhwAWs0NUE

[The Cleaner]

12. Remember, Bush said if they want us out, we'll leave.

Well I think Bush should get a clue here...

[David__77]

13. I don't know

Obviously if the US pulled out, that government is finished. I think they do want US troops there, but want maximum leverage in the situation. This is just part of that strategy. But I say this is great - Iraq is stating they don't "need" the occupation, so that's additional political capital for anti-war forces.

[IndianaGreen]

14. This is great news! Let's bring the troops home NOW!

I don't know why Bush and the DLC would insist we continue with the war in Iraq, now that PM Maliki has said they can handle things without us.

[ohio2007]

16. US Kills Six Militants Using 'Human Shields' in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFP) - A US air strike in Iraq's restive Diyala province killed six alleged militants who used women and children as "human shields" on the rooftop of a building on Saturday, the military said.

US forces came under small arms fire during an operation targeting a weapons dealer linked to a foreign "terrorist network," the military said.

"During the engagement, armed terrorists gathered on the roof of one buildings and brought several women and children to their fighting positions as human shields," the military said.

The gunmen eventually released the women and children and allowed US-led forces to move them off the battlefield,
but
continued to rain down small arms fire from the rooftop, prompting the ground forces to call in an air strike.


snip

http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=9567

seems the 'fighters' kept women and children held in "reserve" for just such a press release.