Iraq: Deal near to withdraw in October 2010

[unhappycamper]

Iraq: Deal near to withdraw in October 2010
By Qassim Abdul-Zahra - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Aug 8, 2008 6:29:44 EDT

BAGHDAD — Iraq and the U.S. are near an agreement on all American combat troops leaving Iraq by October 2010, with the last personnel out three years after that, two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. U.S. officials, however, insisted no dates had been agreed.

The proposed agreement calls for Americans to hand over parts of Baghdad’s Green Zone — where the U.S. Embassy is located — to the Iraqis by the end of 2008. It would also remove U.S. forces from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009, according to the two senior officials, both close to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and familiar with the negotiations.

The officials, who spoke separately on condition of anonymity because the talks are ongoing, said all U.S. combat troops would leave Iraq by October 2010, with the remaining support personnel gone “around 2013.” The schedule could be amended if both sides agree — a face-saving escape clause that would extend the presence of U.S. forces if security conditions warrant it.

U.S. acceptance — even tentatively — of a specific timeline would represent a dramatic reversal of American policy in place since the war began in March 2003.

Both Iraqi and American officials agreed that the deal is not final and that a major unresolved issue is the U.S. demand for immunity for U.S. soldiers from prosecution under Iraqi law.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/08/ap_timeline_080708/

[opihimoimoi]

1. McVain must be going ballistic....kills the notion of Fear...lessens his war hero expertise

if Peace is found...

His crew must be stupified.

[grannie4peace]

2. they are sooo afraid of obama

i have to keep praying that all the pieces will fall into place and evil will not prevail.

[rfranklin]

3. If Bush is agreeing to this it is purely political theater...

It will be used to defuse the anger of the voters so they can distract with other issues such as offshore drilling in November. Once the election is past, they will say that the situation is not secure in Iraq and we must stay for an indefinited period (up to 100 years.)

[global1]

4. Bush Can't Let A Black Man Take Credit For Winning The War.......

too big an ego. He is doing this to undercut Obama and his plans for withdrawal. My take on it is that Obama has been effective in getting Bush to flipflop on his adamant stand on Iraq, withdrawal and timetable. So I say we credit Obama with the save here.