Iraq's Al-Maliki Says No Need for Withdrawal Deadline (Update1)

[maddezmom]

Source: Bloomberg

Iraq's Al-Maliki Says No Need for Withdrawal Deadline (Update1)

By Stuart Biggs

April 10 (Bloomberg) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said the U.S. shouldn't set a deadline for withdrawing its troops from his country because the handover of power to Iraqi security forces is already taking place as quickly as possible.

``There is no need for a timetable because we are working as fast as we can,'' al-Maliki said today at a press conference in Tokyo. ``What will govern the departure of troops will be victories achieved on the ground and not a timetable.''

The U.S. Senate last month passed a Democratic proposal calling for a timetable for withdrawal to be linked to funding for the military, a plan President George W. Bush opposes. Thousands of Shiites gathered in the city of Najaf yesterday for an anti-American rally to mark the fall of Saddam Hussein, responding to a call from the cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

``To demand the departure of troops is a democratic right and a right that is being exercised within Iraq and in the U.S. Congress,'' al-Maliki said after two days of meetings with Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, aimed at encouraging investment in Iraqi reconstruction projects.



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aIClyZHT5A5A

[wake.up.america]

1. The fact he is saying there is no need for a timetable, points out the fact he is worried about

not meeting the demands of 71 percent of the American voters.

[RufusTFirefly]

2. The prime minister spoke softly...

... so as not to startle the man who was holding a gun to his head.

[rodeodance]

3. Maliki has the RW talking point down pat:---exercise in democracy (rally)