Breaking News: Iraqi Lawmakers Pass BINDING RESOLUTION That May Force End of Occupation This Year

[kpete]

George W. Bush: "If the Iraqi Government ask us to leave we will leave"


Breaking News: Iraqi Lawmakers Pass Resolution That May Force End of Occupation This Year

By Raed Jarrar and Joshua Holland, AlterNet. Posted June 5, 2007.

While Washington lawmakers play procedural games with an out-of-control executive branch, Iraqi legislators are working hard to bring an end to the occupation of their country.


While most observers are focused on the U.S. Congress as it continues to issue new rubber stamps to legitimize Bush's permanent designs on Iraq, nationalists in the Iraqi parliament --now representing a majority of the body -- continue to make progress toward bringing an end to their country's occupation.

The parliament today passed a binding resolution that will guarantee lawmakers an opportunity to block the extension of the UN mandate under which coalition troops now remain in Iraq when it comes up for renewal in December. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose cabinet is dominated by Iraqi separatists, may veto the measure.

The law requires that any future extensions of the mandate, which have previously been made by Iraq's Prime Minister, be approved by the parliament. It is an enormous development; lawmakers reached in Baghdad today said that they do in fact plan on blocking the extension of the coalition's mandate when it comes up for renewal six months from now.

Reached today by phone in Baghdad, Nassar al Rubaie, the head of Al-Sadr bloc in Iraq's Council of Representatives, said, "this new binding resolution will prevent the government from renewing the UN mandate without the parliament's permission. They'll need to come back to us by the end of the year, and we will definitely refuse to extend the UN mandate without conditions." Rubaie added: "there will be no such a thing as a blank check for renewing the UN mandate anymore, any renewal will be attached to a timetable for a complete withdrawal."

more at:
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/53230/

[Kagemusha]

1. Ok, THIS is a binding resolution, before it was just a petition.

Mind you, you would really, really think that Maliki would veto this.

[dflprincess]

6. There was an article posted a few days ago the Maliki is worried about the Iraqi Army

staging a coup. If he doesn't veto this, he'll have to worry about Bush staging one as well.

[Kagemusha]

7. How can he not veto it. His only protection is the Green Zone now

I mean, now that he's alienated Sadr's forces a lot.

[monktonman]

8. Dont worry about Maliki

If he vetoes it the Dems...er I mean the Iraqis
will just send him a new and improved gutless bill
that he can sign.

[williesgirl]

2. They especially know it's not good for their country to have foreign occupation. recommended

[bullimiami]

3. oh oh. w might have to replace some folk.

unless by end of occupation they mean the plunder and pillage gets to still go on and americans still control the place from the fortress.

[lostnotforgotten]

4. So Will Bush Undermine His New Democracy Like He Has Undermined Our Old Democracy?

eom

[Cush]

5. will the terrorists follow us home? or will they only do that if we leave on our own?

[Fridays Child]

9. Bush to Iraqi legislators: LA LA LA LA! I can't HEAR you!

[emilyg]

10. I' afraid

you're right. He'll find some way to stay in HIS war.

[Oeditpus Rex]

15. My thoughts exactly

He'll amend his earlier statement to something like "I meant if it was the right time, and this isn't the right time."

[Buns_of_Fire]

24. Or, in the immortal words of Ron Ziegler...

"That statement is no longer operative."

[Canuckistanian]

11. Oh, man, I hope this gains some traction

But I'm still troubled.

The Iraqi "government", such as it is, has proven to be an inept, divided waste of space and time.

But at least it recognizes a few realities.

Number one - American troops occupying the country aren't helping things, and Number 2 - a more realistic political system has to be created.

And these messages are coming from a country where you get killed for making the wrong political decisions.

[PinkyisBlue]

18. The Iraqi govt. sounds a lot like our own govt...

inept, divided and a waste of time and space. I'm hoping the Iraqi govt. is less inept than our own.

[MGKrebs]

26. I am sorry you feel that way.

Democracies are "divided" by design and operate via consensus. On controversial issues where consensus cannot be reached, few are likely to be satisfied with the outcome, but it is not necessarily a symptom of ineptness. Of course, we could continue down the path of investing more power in the supreme "unitary executive" and then I'm sure we could make some real progress getting things done, but a lot of people wouldn't like that either.

[PinkyisBlue]

27. The way our founding fathers designed our govt. was brilliant.

Our govt. has become corrupted and less representative the last few years (did it begin with Reagan)? Of course I believe in a democracy where all people have an equal voice in their political system. These days, some voices are more equal than others.

In my original post, I was trying to be humorous but it backfired.

[MGKrebs]

30. We definitely seem to be replacing democracy with capitalism.

Profits rule, corporations decide, and the common good falls by the wayside.

[PinkyisBlue]

33. Well said.

[Pacifist Patriot]

40. Have you read Gore's book, "Assault on Reason" yet?

It should be required reading around here. He affirms your comment "some voices are more equal than others...." and explains why.

[liberal N proud]

12. The only way they will get rid of the US occupation is pump all the oil

And give it to the bu$h/cheney favored oil companies.

bu$h will not allow the occupation to end as long as he is in office and there is oil in the ground under Iraq.

[Supersedeas]

28. the Oil Industries votes have not been counted yet...democracy postponed

[dogday]

41. Exactly and if you read the recent article by NPR

showing Pentagon Studies see us there for the next 20 years... At least 50,000 troops will be there at all times... Look at our Embassy we are building, look at the camps they have established...

I also believe we won't leave until the last drop of blood and money are spent....

Freaking damn shame....

[On the Road]

13. I Almost Don't Care How the US Responds

This is BIG.

[lonestarnot]

14. Like Iraqis have anything to say about our occupation of their country.

Hmmmmf. Bushitler has the whole damn place and everything in it on ignore.

[nealmhughes]

16. Well, is it really surprising? The Confederation of the Rhine only lasted 6 years. . .

Evidently Iran is Prussia these days. Let the gobbling begin.

[Joanie Baloney]

17. Ha! Good luck

Georgie Porgie will just veto the resolution!

"Mr. President, I'm sorry. You don't have any veto power over the Iraqi Parliament."

"What? Why, that's just crazy, Dick! Ah am The Prez-EE-dent...what ah say, ah mean. And ah mean to Vee-to this revolution!

"It's a re-so-lu-tion, Sir. Resolution."

"The hell it is. It's toast now!"

*sigh*

JB

[Quixote1818]

19. Bush won't leave. He is like the in-law that moves in and changes all the house rules

then when everyone is throughly annoyed with this person and asks them to leave they sit down like a stubborn mule. Even after they are told to leave they want to change the furniture around, cook meals no one likes, switch the TV over to channels no one likes and then tells everyone how they would be lost without their help around the house.

Thats Bush in a nut shell. He thinks he is Gods gift to everyone but in reality EVERYONE is sick of him and wants him GONE!!!!!

[joneschick]

49. I would like to shake your hand!

wonderful response and so damned accurate. :hi:

[Kurovski]

20. K&R. (nt)

[Captain Angry]

21. 5 bucks says...

That there's a coup attempt that thwarts the process later this year.

[arewenotdemo]

23. Or an "accidental" strike on the Iraqi Parliament

ala the Al Jazeera bombing.

Man, I hope they do this. How could the Cheerleader-in-Chief claim victory, or even a draw, with an Iraqi middle finger firmly ending his career of war crimes?

[freebrew]

31. Not only ending the war...

but if this Iraqi parliament has any authority, they can file war-crimes charges against Dick & *, and all the other pnac henchmen. May be a good start on getting some justice(not just us) back into the fray.

[Up2Late]

22. I'm not going to hold my breath...

...yet.:hangover:

[Disturbed]

25. The Puppets on top in Iraq will scream & cry to veto this.

Why? Because they will be dead men walking if their US protectors leave.

[myrna minx]

29. Bush also said he would return to the UN before launching a strike on Iraq,

he also said he would fire anyone involved in the Plame leak. I'm not holding my breath.

[Javaman]

32. Okay, so in what manner of propaganda will moron* employ to ignore this? nt

[kirby]

35. He will say...

that our national security interests cannot be dictated by anyone else. While its fine and dandy that the Iraqi democratic process is working, and its a sign of success, he must do what is in the interest of the US, not Iraqi domestic politics.

[Javaman]

38. Sounds right on the mark. thanks. :)

It's so sad that our gallows humor has gotten to this level.

[Norquist Nemesis]

34. Now the Iraqi gov't is saying, 'Just give us six months'

This is going to be interesting. It's going to be race to see who'll buck Bush first--the Cons in Congress or the Iraqi Government.

[hippiechick]

36. Eh, we didn't recognize their sovreignty when we invaded ...

... why should we start now? :evilfrown:

[mikelgb]

37. "that may force"

right
take out the may

[Locrian]

39. we'll never be out of Iraq

I don't see an exit strategy.
For * or democrats or anyone.
Because OIL would go $$$$$.

[in_cog_ni_to]

42. They really believe they're the ones in power??? How sad. They're about to find out that's just not

the case.:( Then what?

[Joanne98]

43. But but the Iraqi Government invited us in.

[whistle]

44. So Bush is being asked to leave Iraq by Iraqis! Let's see if shrub* is a man of his word.

[porphyrian]

45. This may be the out some are looking for.

Sure, the cynic in me says we're going nowhere, but there's a chance this might actually work. Support for this occupation is at an all-time low, as is support for this administration. Even the republicant candidates are distancing themselves from bush (though probably more along the lines of the immigration bill). I'm not holding my breath, but it will be interesting to see where it goes.

[rurallib]

46. They got more balls than the Democrats

Who are they running for president?

[Babsbrain]

47. Too late

How long is it going to take the citizens of the United States to realize they live under a dictatorship....worse than Saddam Hussein's ever was. At least he gave his citizens free medical and education.

If * wants to stay in Iraq forever, there is nothing being done to stop him...and he knows it.

He knows the citizens of the United States are easily led...that is why there is more news about the 'girls gone wild' than about how easily * took dictatorial power. And the band played on......

[wiggs]

48. What happened to Sen Clinton's suggestion that we rescind the

original IWR?

Seems like a good idea to at least try. Dems could bring up all kinds of issues...such as how the two conditions mentioned in the original resolution WERE NEVER MET.

[Vidar]

50. Unfortunately just another law for Bush to break, a perogative

of the international criminal class.

[Bullet1987]

51. Maliki will veto this...

He's in BushCo's pocket...

[burythehatchet]

52. What, they never heard of Korea?

[hellbound-liberal]

53. This is the perfect "out" for Bush. He can say that we tried to win but the Iraqis wouldn't let us.

They asked us to leave and, even though the job isn't done, we must honor their wishes. I know this isn't likely since we haven't secured the theft of their oil yet but I think it is a definite possibility.

[conspirator]

54. Since when the puppets give orders to the puppeteers? nt