Iraq says early US pullout ok if Iraq army equipped

[sabra]

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, Feb 25 (Reuters) - The withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 19 months, faster than agreed in a bilateral security pact, will not pose a problem so long as Iraq can equip its forces in that time, an official said Wednesday.

U.S. President Barack Obama is leaning toward a 19-month timetable to pull out of Iraq as violence unleashed by the invasion launched by his predecessor, George W. Bush, in 2003 fades, U.S. officials say.

...

"We had hoped that the withdrawal would be according to the schedule mentioned in the agreement," said Brigadier-General Mohammed al-Askari, spokesman for the Iraqi Defence Ministry.

"But even so, if the U.S. president decides to withdraw them in 19 months, with the agreement of the Iraqi government, we will speed up our readiness to be prepared by that time."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSLP841001

[Echo In Light]

1. "Equipped" to protect American business interest$

[Mari333]

2. oh I see..we will pay to equip them eh

more of your tax dollars down the proverbial toilet.

[avaistheone1]

3. There is always a "gotcha" why we can't leave Iraq.

Of course, we have to hand out more money to the military industrial complex before we exit. Their greed is never ending. :grr:

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. How about handing over all of Xe/Blackwater's assets to the Iraqi

government? That would be both punishment for the Blackwater massacre, and help equip the Iraqis with SOA equipment at the same time.

[biopowertoday]

5. so, it is to be reduced from 16months-plus the one month

since he has been in office.

this new proposal is TOOOOO long.