So we told the Iraqis no...are we officially occupiers now?

[Seen the light]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080708/pl_afp/iraqunrestussecuritytimetable

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States on Tuesday rejected a demand from Iraq for a specific date for pullout of US-led foreign troops from the country, saying any withdrawal will be based on conditions on the ground.

"The US government and the government of Iraq are in agreement that we, the US government, we want to withdraw, we will withdraw. However, that decision will be conditions-based," State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said.

Iraq said on Tuesday it will reject any security pact with the United States unless it sets a date for the pullout of US-led troops.

"We will not accept any memorandum of understanding if it does not give a specific date for a complete withdrawal of foreign troops," national security advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie told reporters in the holy city of Najaf.

[DJ13]

1. Bush said he wanted them to become independent of the US

But he didnt mean independent from our oil companies.

[manitor]

2. we only told the provisional iraqi government no

The current iraqi government is an embarrassment. Like Hillary and Barack said, they need to get over things and "stand on their own feet" now. It is way past the invasion/occupation (well the occupation is ALMOST over, except for private security forces/permanent military bases) and time for them to get the point. If they can't make SOFA agreements like mature countries, we will just have to fund new elections.

[thereismore]

3. New elections? Where, in the US? nt

[manitor]

4. no, over there

In Iraq, new elections. Because if they aren't getting the right result with this government, it is our responsibility to help them fund another one, so that we can take care of business and keep them safe.

Remember: President Obama will be keeping private security forces and many military bases in Iraq permanently. That means that he NEEDS that SOFA agreement with Iraq, and all democrats need to support him on that, so that he can enact his military goals and keep that country safe with our advisers, mercenaries, etc.

So, if the current Iraqi government fails, we have to help them vote a new one so that Obama can keep his security forces there.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

26. "so that Obama can keep his security forces there" Um, "his"? Please elaborate.

[Indenturedebtor]

34. You forgot the sarcasm tag... but in case you didn't forget it

Democracy doesn't mean "Democracy that we approve of". It means Democracy.

Keeping forces there is NOT a good idea. NOT a good idea. If you dispute that point please say so. There are so many reasons that it's NOT a good idea that I don't want to go through the trouble if you were being sarcastic.

[KG]

5. get real. america owns and runs iraq, lock stock and barrel.

there is no iraqi govt, just puppets on a string.

[CatWoman]

13. bingo!!!

:hi:

[JuniperLea]

15. Weird it needed to be said... yup

[RadiationTherapy]

25. Edith Flack Ackley may need to be my next username. nt.

[JuniperLea]

28. Gets caught in the throat!

It's a good one:)

[madokie]

23. Thats about as true of a statement that I've ever read, ever.

[leftchick]

6. if US administrations were smart instead of imperialistic

we would cancel SOFAs around the world and pay attention to our own failing country. We could save a fuck of a lot of money too. You hear that sucking sound? It is the US invasion and occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan and to a lesser extent our 700 other colonies around the world draining us dry.

[manitor]

9. don't be ridiculous

If we didn't have those bases, we wouldn't be able to help other countries manage their economies the right way, so that they can afford to buy dollars to use for oil. Which they will now HAVE to use for a long time, at least if they want oil from Iraq, which is our new friend.

All we can do is thank God that Barack Obama will soon be President. I know that the pro-military things he is saying right now are just to get elected. And sure, he has all those advisers, and all that money, etc. But once he is President, I know in my heart of hearts that he will suddenly change into a new suit, and start reversing the tragic course of U.S. militarism worldwide!

[JuniperLea]

18. "manage their economies the right way"

:puke:

[Ichingcarpenter]

31. "manage their economies the right way"...........LOL

That's the funniest line so far! Meanwhile our economy is being managed by the same guys "the right way"


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[JuniperLea]

32. Yep!

We are just silly for not accepting everything our BushCo Overlords tell us! Oh... not "silly"... ridiculous!

:rofl:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. LOL

We'll just keep having elections until we get the democracy we want, eh?

[manitor]

10. It's not about what WE want

You're a Democrat, right? Barack says he is going to keep military advisers, private security contractors, and permanent military bases in Iraq. That means we need to support this resolution, or else his military plan for the middle east will fall apart! He needs permission from a LEGITIMATE Iraqi government in order to keep those troops there, and that will be HIS decision as President.

So, if the Iraqi government is irresponsible and being "political," and will not accept our troops, we as Democrats have to help the Iraqis to "stand on their own feet" and choose a modern, responsible government that will let President Obama keep his troops and bases there. This is a matter of safety and America's future.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. Oh, absolutely.

And thank God we're still in Vietnam supporting the south Vietnamese government.

:rofl:

[manitor]

22. i fail to see your humor

?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

24. Well, yes, you would.

You supported the war when Bush started it, but failed to enlist, and know you're pretending to support Obama and the war, but still failing to enlist.

That shit's hilarious.

[JuniperLea]

29. Not surprising...eom

[Webster Green]

14. Ah yes, blame the victim. Are you perchance one of them repukes?..

They always blame the victims of their hostile actions.

We destroyed their country, killed their leaders, slaughtered hundreds of thousands of their people, and created millions of refugees.

I hate it when dems (including our presidential candidates) talk like repukes and tell the Iraqis to "stand up", "step up to the plate", and all that crap. We control what happens there. We are the illegal occupiers. Iraqis aren't allowed to do anything unless Cheney approves it.

[manitor]

21. I am not blaming the victims

I am a Barack Obama supporter, and a Democrat, and this is about supporting the Party and supporting Obama. Obama says that our troops in Iraq performed BRILLIANTLY, which is true. And the Iraqi civil war is SOMEBODY ELSE'S civil war, according to him.

As he said on our website, we have been asked TOO MANY TIMES to be PATIENT. http://obama.senate.gov/press/070130-obama_offers_pl_1/index.php

Go there! Read it! That is what Democrats should be doing--supporting our troops and Obama's plan for Iraq's future.

And yes, he wants them to "step up to the plate." That is what they SHOULD be doing. For our security, Obama has decided (and he WILL be president!!) that we need military advisers, private contractors, and military bases, to stay there permanently. As Democrats and supporters of Obama, we need to help him realize those goals. And that means getting an Iraqi government that will support his troops/our troops.

This is simple, people! Help Obama keep advisers/contractors/mercs/bases in Iraq as long as he needs them there to keep us safe. We have, like he said, run out of patience with the Iraqis, and they need to be responsible and let him keep his soldiers there.

[TahitiNut]

30. "If they can't make SOFA agreements like mature countries"???

Is the U.S. a "mature country"?? Do we have any SOFA agreements with other nations who have their military forces inside our borders?? No? (Funny about that.)

:eyes:

[TahitiNut]

33. R.I.P., freepitor

:hi:

[americanyouth]

7. As was in Vietnam, this war was not meant to be won, only sustained.

This war is a perpetual money-making machine for the international bankers that are the structure upon which our government sits and operates. Constitutional rights stripped under false premise leading up to borders between neighboring nations being erased and the United States of America completely restructured without the consent of the American people. Why the hell would they set a formal date to stop that plan in it's tracks? The Bush administration, the Morgans, Rockefellers, and other banking institutions that rule in secrecy will use every question-dodging, salesman's trick in the book to avoid this one.

[IDemo]

11. good "conditions on the ground" pictured here ->

[JuniperLea]

16. BushCo's Wet Dream...

[Blue_In_AK]

17. I hope the Iraqi government hangs tough on this one.

We need to be out of there.

[JuniperLea]

20. The fact they aren't kowtowing to BushCo...

Gives hope. Anyone and any government that does let BushCo lead them around by the nose is suspect.

[malaise]

19. Duh! n/t

[Jim__]

27. "conditions on the ground" - like we approve the current puppet government - n/t