Powell: If asked, U.S. will leave Iraq

[Lorien]

Powell: If asked, U.S. will leave Iraq
By Glenn Kessler
The Washington Post

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Colin Powell emphatically said yesterday that if the incoming Iraqi interim government ordered the departure of foreign troops after June 30, they would pack up without protest, but emphasized he doubted such a request would be made.
Powell said the United States believes a U.N. resolution passed last year and Iraqi administrative law provide necessary authority for coalition forces — currently numbering about 170,000 — to remain even beyond the scheduled June 30 handover of limited sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government.
"We're there to support the Iraqi people and protect them and the new government," Powell said at a news conference with other foreign ministers from the Group of Eight nations. "I have no doubt the new government will welcome our presence and am losing no sleep over whether they will ask us to stay."

More:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001929859_govern15.html

[Racenut20]

1. Is there any doubt in your mind?

State will now control the Iraq business.

Iraq will kick us out

It will save all their asses but Powell, and he was going to quit after November anypath.

[mulethree]

13. but then what?

You have your internal ethnic tensions and potentially some external tensions e.g. Iran and Turkey.

If Powell is so sure we'll be asked to stay, then he must be aware of or arranging something that at least looks scarier than U.S. Occupation?

I want them to agree to do something other than all-or-nothing. Some staged withdrawl under Iraqi determination or some other arrangement where U.S. forces concentrate away from Iraqi cities and leave their base and engage only under Iraqi orders.

[maggrwaggr]

30. gee, what if the American People ask instead?

Oh I forgot. Our government doesn't work for us anymore.

[ecstatic]

2. This is just more proof of the unbelievable

cowardice and dishonesty of our current administration. They completely fVck up a nation, causing thousands to die. Of course the Iraqis are going to ask them to leave, which will let *Co off the hook for fixing the huge mess they've created.

[LittleApple81]

3. Haven't you noticed? ALL OF THEM SAY "IF ASKED". They

already made sure (by creating "commissions" and other fixes for the "new and improved Iraqi government" so they WON'T ASK!!!

[ecstatic]

7. I don't think so...

We should have never gone to Iraq in the first place, and now they have no intentions of staying to fix what they've destroyed. They realize that Iraq is not all it was cracked up to be (oil-wise, etc.). They are more focused on the bigger picture of staying in the White House. They are cowards and liars.

[indepat]

4. And I'm sure all those permanent military bases being built at a cost

likely in the tens of billions of dollars will be abandoned. Yeah!

[mmm]

10. The US calls them permanent bases because... the US ain't closing 'em

We will only evacuate those areas where we have no vested interest.
We will not leave the oil, we will not close the bases, we will
not call off the monstrous invasion of Syria and Iran.

[0007]

17. I'm sure Iraq has a lot to say about those bases

When it's known how the Iraqi vote will go, I'm more than sure all hell will break loose.

When Sistani gives the word the U.S. will think twice about staying.

[izzie]

5. What, pray tell. is this all about?

Did not Bush say we were going to stay and finish the job? Not that I am sure what the job is but we have been around the block on this poor country. I guess it is like mountains, you go up them because you can and we invaded Iraq because Bush could.Does he or any one know what they are doing in DC?The old quote about the inmates comes to mind.

[0007]

6. Powell talks like a stupid fucking poker player that hasn't a clue

he's being cheated.

[thebigidea]

8. as if we don't notice only the outgoing Bush creeps are saying this

Bremer and Powell. Fucking dolts.

Then again, it appears ALL of the Bush Mob are outgoing - not just the two with an obvious expiration date.

[DarbyUSMC]

9. A more truthful statement would be:

We're there to support the Iraqi people and protect them FROM their new government. Meanwhile, we will give up more troop's lives if "asked" to stay??? No problem, glad to do it. Is that our stand? Anything to help Iraq? I'd leave a note on the night-stand saying so long, Saddam is gone, you've been liberated, thanks for the memories, and before you install your new dictator, remember that we won't be coming back to "free" you again. The human cost is too high and too many of you would rather shoot us than have us help you.

:nopity:

[mmm]

15. Bush never intended to help Iraq

His agenda from day one has included four items:
1. Aiding Sharon in the monstrous expansion of Zionism
2. Building permanent bases for the unlawful invasion
of Syria, Iran and beyond
3. Securing Central Asian oil at any cost, stealing Iraqi oil,
and transfering ownership of Iraq's infrastructure from the public
domain directly into the hands of Bush buddies. Bush is using your
tax dollars to rape Iraq for the benefit of a very few wealthy
Americans.
4. War profiteering, the soaring cost of which will be used
as an excuse to deny taxpayers the benefits they pay/have
paid for.

Bush buddies are using the power of the US military to
secure private profit. We foot the entire bill and get nothing but
debt and horror for our investment. This is exactly the way government should not work.

[mmm]

16. And do not forget: Bush does not care about the cost of anything

Public cost; private profit. The cost is added to the national debt.
We will have to pay this. The profits are extracted by Bush buddies -
risk free and without liability. Free money for assholes.

[hippywife]

22. There may be one more motivating factor.

3. Securing Central Asian oil at any cost, stealing Iraqi oil,
and transfering ownership of Iraq's infrastructure from the public
domain directly into the hands of Bush buddies. Bush is using your
tax dollars to rape Iraq for the benefit of a very few wealthy
Americans.

I read recently where China's need for oil has increased over 30% in the past year.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4722003/

If Bushco cronies have control over what is supposed to be the world's second largest oil reserve (Iraq), could this not be their way of taking a swipe at China by securing a large source of oil?


Pulling out if asked?? Yeah, rapists always pull out when asked. The Iraqi's have been asking for some time now but this bunch can't take a hint even when it's delivered by RPG! :eyes:

[Tellurian]

28. Bush is taking a swipe at everyone. Take the Russians for instance...

[Tellurian]

27. Thats it! If we could ever hold the line on that thought, we'd win!

That is an accurate assessment of the big picture...also imo.

[cureautismnow]

11. The Puppet Gov't Most Likely Will Not Ask Us To Leave...

Who would keep them propped up? It would leave them exposed. The illegitimate gov't would likely get toppled by those who see them as mere tools of foreigners.

OTOH, it might work if they could convince the Iraqi people that they are indeed the good guys now because they kicked the occupiers out.

Who really knows which way the wind will ultimately blow? :shrug:

I really hope the latter is the case, though. American troops need to come back home and defend American soil, Not foreign oil. ...And NOT daddy's honor! :puke:

[Darranar]

20. Exactly. n/t

[Lorien]

21. Indeed, the new Iraqi government will be no more

"independent" than former Chevron-exec-turned-Afghanistan-ruler Karzai is "independent".

[VolcanoJen]

12. Well, all-righty-then. I'm asking. Is that not enough?

:grr: :mad: :grr:

[donotpassgo]

14. **cough**bullshit**cough**

n/t

[POed_Ex_Repub]

18. Let me get this straight...

We'll leave if we tell our puppet government to tell us to. That about it? :eyes:

[havocmom]

19. They need 'to leave' so they can send the troops to the next nation

some company wants to route a pipeline through.

[daleo]

23. If the mafia does this, it is called a "protection" racket

"We're there to support the Iraqi people and protect them and the new government," Powell said... "I have no doubt the new government will welcome our presence and am losing no sleep over whether they will ask us to stay."

Words that could have come right out of the mouth of Marlon Brando in "The Godfather".

[struggle4progress]

24. Related thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x552697

[JCMach1]

25. they undercut powell again... check LBN

[Tellurian]

26. Powell is delusional..

Theres no way the Arab/Muslim populations will forgive Bush for the torture and atrocities committed on his watch..

Bush is as radio active as Yucca Valley!

The Muslims will hate Bush, and the Bush name for what it represents to them for centuries.

[struggle4progress]

29. Wait wait! This just in! Everything's going murky again!

Clashes in Iraq; Powell Says U.S. Troops to Stay
<snip>
Powell said U.S. troops would stay for some time and should keep Iraqi forces under their command after the June 30 handover -- but the Iraqi government would be truly sovereign.
<snip>
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5156268

[Barkley]

31. What if the American tax-payer/ voters want the troops home 6/30?

Why is it a hanful of Iraqis get to decided the fate of 130,000 GIs?

[Minstrel Boy]

32. Brezhnev: If asked, Soviet troops will leave East Germany.

They remain merely as guests of a fraternal member of the Warsaw Pact.