Many Iraqis Have Second Thoughts as U.S. Exit Nears

[alp227]

Source: The New York Times

BAGHDAD — Sheik Kamal Maamouri, the leader of one of the largest Shiite-dominated tribes in Iraq, used to call the United States troops here occupiers, demanding that they withdraw because he said they killed and imprisoned innocent members of his tribe.

But now he is not so sure he wants the Americans to go, at least not yet. Like many others across Iraq, he felt conflicted, and a bit frightened, after it was revealed last week that the United States may keep 3,000 to 4,000 troops in Iraq next year.

“The political changes that have occurred here and the security problems have led a lot of Iraqis, including me, to change our minds about the withdrawal of U.S. forces,” Mr. Maamouri said. That was a view that few Shiites, empowered by the fall of Saddam Hussein’s Sunni government, would ever have spoken — when it seemed the United States was never going to go.

“They bring a balance to Iraqi society,” he said.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/world/middleeast/11iraq.html?pagewanted=all

[TheWraith]

1. Change is always scary. They'll get over it. nt

[Pirate Smile]

2. Wow. Interesting article - Whatttt??? You're leaving? 3,000 is no where near enough - we never

thought you would actually go!

[provis99]

3. what a dope.

Shit Kamal Maamouri, the leader of one of the largest Shit-dominated tribes in Iraq...

[msongs]

4. the money/graft spiggot is about to be shut off - except for US war profiteer "contractors" nt

[iemitsu]

5. this is not surprising in the least.

we have created a new order there and iraqis are not sure if that order will be stable without us.
i'm sure it was easy to find several people to interview (perhaps many) who have adjusted to the new rules and have profited. these people will not want to risk losing our support.
but i would bet money that more iraqis want us gone than want us to stay.
this sort of article is designed to prepare the public, so that when we discover that the US does not plan to leave iraq we will think we have been asked to stay.
if that is going to be the story then the iraqis ought to pay for the cost of our staying.
the tone is vaguely reminiscent of the reports by the kuwaiti princess that saddam's troops were ripping babies out of incubators.

[SavWriter]

6. This is the same lie Bush Co. told us time and time again.

This was the excuse they gave us to stay in Iraq after even they had to admit that Saddam didn't have so much as a stink bomb much less a WMD.

[OKDem08]

US Exit?!? HAHA ... what a joke!

The US Govt didn't build that $500 mil American embassy in Iraq for nothing.

[Peace Patriot]

7. Hundreds of thousands dead, who don't get to have second thoughts. nt

[Ian David]

8. "Our work here is done. And you're welcome!"

[KG]

9. 'Damn Few Iraqis Have Second Thoughts as U.S. Exit Nears'

fixed!

[nineteen50]

10. I wonder

Who butters their bread.

[bemildred]

11. “They bring a balance to Iraqi society,” he said.

[No Elephants]

12. We pay these penny ante sheiks. They'll do and say whatever we tell them.