Biden: US will follow Iraq wishes on troop pullout

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

Vice President Joe Biden pledged Thursday to follow Iraq's wishes should Baghdad decide to speed up the timetable for the withdrawal of American troops from the country.

Speaking to reporters in Baghdad before heading to northern Iraq to meet with Kurdish leaders, Biden said, however, that there were still a number of steps that would have to be taken before Iraq could call a referendum to alter the so-called "status of forces" agreement.

The agreement currently calls for the withdrawal of American combat forces by the end of August 2010 and all U.S. troops by the end of the following year.

Parliament approved the agreement in November on condition that it is put to a vote in a national referendum. The Iraqi government has agreed to hold the referendum in conjunction with parliamentary elections in January. If voters reject the agreement in the referendum, U.S. forces would have a year to withdraw instead of by the end of 2011.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jIx_f5mAmx2USq6VxK0xbJvIevjgD9AP9LR82

[bemildred]

1. Well, that is an invitation if I ever heard one. nt

[madokie]

2. Well I do declare

that put the biggest smile on my face that I've had in quite some time.

[Winterblues]

3. .

[No Elephants]

4. So, we'll leave sooner if Baghdad asks us to leave. Is tha likely?