Have you got a magic decoder ring?

[struggle4progress]

Here is a real "riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma" -- it might be the sort of thing that only really good CIA analysts can unravel, using one of those special "mirror puzzles."


Thousands of Iraqis March, Demanding U.S. Withdrawal
AP 18 apr 03
Senior Baath Party Leader Is Captured; Tapes Said to Depict Hussein on April 9
Thousands of Iraqis marched in downtown Baghdad on Friday to demand a rapid U.S. troop withdrawal, while a prominent opposition leader said he expects Americans to relinquish most government functions within weeks. http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2003/Iraqis-Demand-US-Out8apr03.htm


May 20, 2003, 3:30pm EDT
IRAQI MUSLIMS DEMAND U.S. WITHDRAWAL
Thousands of Shiite Muslims protested in Baghdad Monday, demanding the withdrawal of U.S. forces and the establishment of an Iraqi government
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/iraq_05-20-03.html


What do Iraqis want? Iraqi attitudes on occupation, US withdrawal, governments, and quality of life
Project on Defense Alternatives
Compiled by Carl Conetta
01 February 2005

1. When Should Forces Leave?
February 2004: 33 percent want withdrawal within a year; 40 percent, withdrawal once an Iraqi government is in place; 27 percent, a longer or more open-ended stay. (Oxford Research International)
March-April 2004: 57 percent, "leave immediately"; 36 percent, "stay longer". (Gallup)
June 2004: 41 percent, "immediate withdrawal"; 45 percent, withdrawal after election of a permanent government; 10 percent, 2 years or longer. (Independent Institute for Administration and Civil Society/CPA).
June 2004: 30 percent desire immediate withdrawal, 51 percent want withdrawal after a government is elected, 13 percent said that Coalition forces should remain until stability was achieved. (Iraq Centre for Research & Strategic Studies)
June 2004: 53 percent say leave now or "within a few months" or "until an Interim Government is in place" or "in six months to a year"; 33.5 percent allow "more than one year" or "until permanent government is in place"; 13.6 percent, even longer if necessary. (Oxford Research International)
January 2005: 82 percent of Sunni Arabs and 69 percent of Shiites favor US withdrawal ãeither immediately or after an elected government is in place.ä (Zogby) http://www.comw.org/pda/0501br17append.html


Tens of Thousands of Iraqis Demand U.S. Withdrawal
Supporters of Militant Shiite Cleric Stage Rally in Baghdad
By Anthony Shadid
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, April 10, 2005; Page A25

BAGHDAD, April 9 -- Tens of thousands of Shiite Muslims loyal to the militant cleric Moqtada Sadr on Saturday surged into the Baghdad square where the statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled two years ago, demanding a timetable for the U.S. military's withdrawal from Iraq, release of their leaders jailed by American forces and a speedy trial for Hussein. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40509-2005Apr9.html


June 22, 2005
83 MPs Ask al-Jaafari to Put a Timetable for the Withdrawal of Foreign Troops
Al-Hayat, translated by Gilbert Achcar

Baghdad -- One-third of the members of the National Assembly (83 MPs) have asked for a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq, accusing the Assembly itself of not caring "about the demands of millions of Iraqis."

During a press conference that they organized, Falah Hassan Shneishel MP, a member of the "Independent National Bloc," said that "the presence of the occupation forces gives a pretext for the continuation of violence and terrorism that have taken the lives of thousands of Iraqis." In reply to a question from Al-Hayat about the attitude that he would take with his colleagues if the Assembly did not comply with their requests, he said that "they would take a stand," without giving further details. http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=8138


Iraqi union leaders seek troop withdrawal, solidarity

by Barb Kucera, Workday Minnesota
June 23rd, 2005ST. PAUL Two Iraqi union leaders Thursday issued a call for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq and pledged solidarity with workers in the United States and around the globe.

More than 300 people packed the Carpenters hall for discussion with Falah Awan, president of the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions of Iraq (FWCUI), and Amjad Ali Aljawhry, an Iraqi union leader in exile in Canada and a representative of the FWCUI in North America.

The union leaders are part of a six-member delegation touring the United States at the invitation of U.S. Labor Against the War. In the Twin Cities, their visit was sponsored by the United Steelworkers, several other unions and other organizations. http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=8350


Iraqi PM calls for speedy withdrawal of US troops
Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al- Jaafari on Wednesday called for speedy and coordinated withdrawal of the US troops from the war-torn country. http://english.people.com.cn/200507/28/eng20050728_198740.html


posted November 22, 2005 at 11:00 a.m.
Iraqi leaders want a timetable for US withdrawal
Group condemns terrorism, but also acknowledges 'legitimate right to resistance.'
By Tom Regan | csmonitor.com
Putting aside numerous differences at a reconciliation conference in Cairo, Iraqi leaders called for a timetable to be set for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. The Associated Press reports that the gathering of Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish leaders (under the auspices of the Arab League) also said that Iraq's opposition had a "legitimate right to resistance."
The communique – finalized by Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni leaders Monday – condemned terrorism but was a clear acknowledgment of the Sunni position that insurgents should not be labeled as terrorists if their operations do not target innocent civilians or institutions designed to provide for the welfare of Iraqi citizens . http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1122/dailyUpdate.html


Iraqi ambassador claims US Marines 'intentionally' killed cousin

The new Iraqi ambassador to the United States has accused US Marines of "intentionally" killing a cousin in the Iraqi town of Haditha last year. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1651583.htm


U.S. troops routinely attack civilians, Iraqi leader says
June 2, 2006, Friday
06/02/06 "New York Times" -- --

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki lashed out at the American military on Thursday, denouncing what he characterized as habitual attacks by troops against Iraqi civilians.

As outrage over the disclosure that American Marines killed 24 Iraqis in the town of Haditha last year continued to roil the new government, the country's Sunni Arab deputy prime minister also demanded that American officials turn over their investigative files on the killings and said that the Iraqi government would conduct its own inquiry.

In his comments, al-Maliki said violence against civilians had become a "daily phenomenon" by troops in the American-led coalition who "do not respect the Iraqi people." http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13477.htm


Major print outlets repeated GOP's "cut and run" criticism of Democratic calls for Iraq withdrawal, ignored public support for pullout

In their coverage of Senate Democrats' recent efforts to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, numerous print outlets focused largely on the differences between two Democratic proposals on the issue and highlighted Republicans' dismissals of the measures as "cutting and running." But these outlets -- including The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, and Reuters -- all failed to note that recent polls show a majority of Americans support some form of withdrawal from Iraq, even as Republicans continue to claim this represents a "cut and run" policy. Further, these outlets not only ignored reports that Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi requested a timetable for withdrawal during a June 13 meeting with President Bush, but they also did not mention a poll taken earlier this year that found that more than two-thirds of Iraqis support the exit of U.S. troops by the end of 2007 http://mediamatters.org/items/200606200009


Iraq Amnesty Plan May Cover Attacks On U.S. Military
Leader Also Backs Talks With Resistance
By Ellen Knickmeyer and Jonathan Finer
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, June 15, 2006; A01
BAGHDAD, June 14 -- Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Wednesday proposed a limited amnesty to help end the Sunni Arab insurgency as part of a national reconciliation plan that Maliki said would be released within days. The plan is likely to include pardons for those who had attacked only U.S. troops, a top adviser said. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/14/AR2006061402432_pf.html


Iraq: US may be asked to leave
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2348103&mesg_id=2348103

[me b zola]

1. A wealth of information

I knew about the Iraqis asking for the US to leave in '05, but I was unaware of earlier requests.

Thanks for a great thread, recomended



BTW, I was conflicted as to how to vote, so I chose for dumya to take a walk around Baghdad and talk to the locals so he could get a feel for what they wanted. ;)

[struggle4progress]

2. Thanks!

[me b zola]

3. A kicky-poo

in honor of all of the Kerry-Feingold-Boxer amendment :)

[BrotherBuzz]

4. Drink more Ovaltine

:kick: