U.S. threatens to halt services to Iraq without troop accord

[DogPoundPup]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

BAGHDAD _ The U.S. military has warned Iraq that it will shut down military operations and other vital services throughout the country on Jan. 1 if the Iraqi government doesn't agree to a new agreement on the status of U.S. forces or a renewed United Nations mandate for the American mission in Iraq.

Many Iraqi politicians view the move as akin to political blackmail, a top Iraqi official told McClatchy Sunday.

In addition to halting all military actions, U.S. forces would cease activities that support Iraq’s economy, educational sector and other areas _ "everything" _ said Tariq al Hashimi, the country’s Sunni Muslim vice president. "I didn’t know the Americans are rendering such wide-scale services."

Hashimi said that Army Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, listed “tens” of areas of potential cutoffs in a three-page letter, and he said the implied threat caught Iraqi leaders by surprise.

"It was really shocking for us," he said. "Many people are looking to this attitude as a matter of blackmailing."

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/story/54795.html

[Poll_Blind]

1. ! ? (?)

PB

[billyoc]

2. Hu jintao on line 2, Prime Minister...

[ixion]

3. Note to Iraq: Tell the BFEE to piss off

please. It would be best for all parties.

[jimshoes]

4. What do they expect,

they're dealing with the bush mob. Criminals, all of them.

[bjobotts]

40. If only someone could get word to them that Obama takes office Jan.20

[bjobotts]

41. The Bush stupidity will be ending and they need not cater to blackmail

[tabatha]

5. Guess what - they won't sign.

[jody]

6. Would Iraq have a case for the International Court of Justice given that Bush devastated Iraq under

false pretenses relative to "shut down . . . vital services"?

Colin Powell could be the lead off witness for the plaintiff.

ON EDIT: add reference to "vital services"

[thunder rising]

7. Stop the patrols and the US Troops can be surrounded and cutoff.

What are they going to do, hang out in the Green Zone and count mortars.

This is stupidity at it's finest.

[The Craw]

8. The US wants Iraq to be a compliant puppet state

So much for the US leaving whenever the Iraqis want us to leave....

[Poseidan]

34. not the US, just republicans

who will soon be at the bottom of my ocean

[Demeter]

9. Sic Semper Tyrannis!

Which happens to be Virginia's state motto.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sic_semper_tyrannis

[Dennis Donovan]

10. It would be foolish for Iraq to sign ANY treaty with the OUTGOING Bush admin

...I hope we sell give that enormously stupid fucking embassy to them, as well.

[CalGator]

20. no doubt the administration is playing hardball because their days are numbered

It sure is nice of the Bush administration to force a treaty on the incoming president (who wants to withdraw) as the sun sets on his own Presidency.

Jan 20, 2009 can't get here fast enough.

[mallard]

49. Re: administration playing hardball

It's supposed to look like hardball, but it's just bluffing with intimidation and blackmail to get what they really want - overlord supremacy status.

Blackwell et al 'must'be treated as privileged, whenever it comes time to 'teach' Iraqi and Afghanis the meaning of preserving the American way of life. If they had to actually answer to Iraqi law, we'd all pretty soon be lining up for rice, wishing the power would come back on someday or heading out of town with burro carts in search of potable water. This makes perfect sense to ... the burros

Bush won't admit he's already totally screwed the Iraqi nation for generations to come, and created a jihadi terror training ground where once was a peaceful prosperous secular Arab country. Now it's all about what the hell becomes of the place if we suddenly don't back the puppet gov't and it lame-bo forces.

So this just has to be bluffing or ... there's definitely nothing worth being there for - at all.

Another amazing display of immoral hegemony by the BushNeoWcons.


Re: New Straits Times 10/25/08
Dr M: Criminalise wars of aggression

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/Nationa...

mallard, langkawi malaysia

[bluesmail]

11. The Mob has spoken: Do it or else.

[tclambert]

12. Don Vito Cheney sez:

"Dis Hashimi guy, I want you to make him an offer he can't refuse. Capice?"

[bvar22]

13. It is NOT "Blackmail".

It IS "Extortion".

<with cigarette dangling from lip>
"Nice country ya got here.
Be a shame if something happens to it.
Maybe you should just give us those oilfields so we can protect them for ya."

Extortion

I sincerely pray that the Iraqis can hold out until an Obama/Democratic administration.
Bush seems way too anxious to get this deal done.

[Canuckistanian]

14. Cheap, petty, mean-spirited and petulant to the end

There can be no doubt where THIS order came from.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

15. RETITLE THIS: Bush Timetable = Leave Iraq by Jan. 1, 2009

This is so stupid that it is funny.

So the Shrub administration will establish a January 1, 2009 timetable unless they get their way.

Us old-timers like me think, "So I'll take my marbles and go home. Boo Hoo." That literally was my first reaction.

Senators Obama and Biden have a planned withdrawl - not a whiney stomping home.

Shame on the Shrub administration.

[ohio2007]

16. They are waiting until nov 5th. they got all the time in the world by their calendar

[babylonsister]

17. What flipping services? Puhleeze.

In Iraq, the doctors are out
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

http://www.freep.com/article/20081024/NEWS07/810240434
School a luxury for kids in Iraq

Google anything you want, and let me know exactly how we're helping Iraqis. I'd love to know.

[lonestarnot]

18. And I read where people were leaving in droves.

[AlbertCat]

37. We protect those lovely oil wells, y'know....

The most competent thing the Bushites have done since pocketing the surplus.

[frogcycle]

19. nothing is going to change until Nov 5

then everything will change

this is just noise

[Javaman]

21. international blackmail. george w. moron* classy till the bitter end. nt

[LynnTheDem]

22. Ummm...

WTF?????!!

Can we really stir up worldwide loathing and disgust and hratred towards us any more???!

Is it possible???!!

[iamahaingttta]

23. H@ly F*cking Sh!t!

And I read it here on DU first.
Again.
This is big...

[Zhade]

24. Good on shutting down the killing of civilians - but the other stuff is a WAR CRIME.

Why haven't these criminals been arrested?

[baldguy]

25. Vito Corleone would be proud.

[Lost-in-FL]

26. This is disgusting.

[FVZA_Colonel]

27. I'm sure Russia or China would love to step in so as to be able to provide these services.

[ACTION BASTARD]

28. Ha! Call the criminal cabal's bluff.

1. Make them wait till Nov 5th.
2. Then jerk them off till Jan 1.
3. ?
4. Profit!

See how that works? Brilliant.

[Diclotican]

29. DogPoundPup

DogPoundPup

Good, Then go home.. I guess the US have overstated their welcome when it comes to Iraq allready... Just go home to the US... And tale all the goods with your. And let Iraqis clean up whatever mess the US "freedom" have given the Iraq..

To treating to stop services, when 90% of Iraq want you out of the country ASAP..... This is just stupid.. Iraq have been devastated by the US occupation, and would need a lot of help to build what is destroyed up again.. And now US is TR EATEN to cutoff what they in the first place have destroyed.. HOW ARROGANT....
First US destroy the country.. And them demand that they have to stay here, to build what is destroyed?.. To build bases and the lot.. Let Iraq build their own country.. And stay the hell out of Iraq!:. US had no reason to be there in the first place. ANd have definitely no place to be here today..



Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[Shardik]

52. Diclotican.

You need no apology for your English.

You summed it up very nicely.

[Diclotican]

58. Just A Yeller Dawg

Just A Yeller Dawg

Thank you I just had to say it.. If the iraqi people would not have you there, why bother to be there?.. If the reason was something else than to "free" the iraqi people from the evil claws of Saddam Hussein the operation is finished for a long time since.. When they was hanging the old dictator..

Now US want to be there for a long time, and threatened with if they are not to be there, they would leave them alone and for their devices.. Why then just the Iraqi people work it out then. If it was not for the oil, and the other product fro oil what was it then. I doubt the Cheney and the Bush and the rest of the Mob was sendint 150.000 soldiers to Iraq, just to let Iraq go 7 year after.. O now, they want permanent bases in the area, even if the bases would be a thorn in the side of the iraqi government.. And specially in the rest of the area.. iran, Syria Tyrkia and the Saudis are not exactly happy about the bases that is proposed in Iraq.. Yes even Old NATO member Turkey want US to get a lower profile in Iraq..

I have a feeling that if the most of the american soldiers was to be send hope to US, or out of Iraq to bases in SA or other places, just to keep an pressure when it come to Iran and other "bad apples" in the area, it would meant that the iraqi itself have to work it out them self.. And i doubt that the iraqi are willing to have a civil war against them self.. It is far better to work to build up what have been blowed up the last 16 year.. But Iraq would be far more friendly with Iran than the former regime in Iraq would be. The Sh ia muslim majority would se to it... Maybe even the US would possible manage to get something out of it, because US need a better hand with Iran than they have today I guess..

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[sharesunited]

30. U.N. authority for the U.S. to be in Iraq ends at the end of the year.

I would be the first to complain if we stayed longer without authority from Iraq itself.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/world/middleeast/08ir...

[Porschenut1066]

31. Others would be pleased to move in and provide services e.g. IRAN

Russia, China, and almost anyone else wanting to gain access to all that oil.
This Administration always threatens people and countries, but the world considers America and this Administration a "Paper Tiger" with a Scorpion tail. Much weaker than before but still has Bush and Cheney with their finger on the button of 20,000 nukes.

[krispos42]

32. "If we can't come to an agreement on me arm-twisting you, I'm gonna leave!"

Yeah, that's an effective threat.

[bertman]

33. Just when you thought they couldn't stoop any lower.

[Poseidan]

35. Iraq should send U.S. troops packing, along with 'services'

I'm sure Iraq is capable of autonomy. Declaring independence can be quite a bit of enjoyment.

[dixiegrrrrl]

36. Wait a minute..

How could the Iraqi minister be surprised at how much of the country the US was running?

They didn't know who was providing services in their country????

and why should they be surprised that if they want the US out, the services would stop?

Lousy poker players, all around.

[Wizard777]

38. Do you know how long it will take them to count their 79 billion dollar surplus?

What was that you were saying about them being lousy poker players? Where I come from the guy with all the money is the winner. We went bankrupt in Bush's first term and we're still betting 10 Billion per month.

[StreetKnowledge]

39. Dumb......just plain old f***ing dumb

Yeah, we cal haul out - and had the country to Iran, China and Russia, the REAL enemies of freedom to start with.

Just today, China calls one of their prominent human rights activists - who is rotting a Chinese prison, no doubt probably getting the s*** beaten out of him - a criminal for "subverting the state" the same day as the EU gives him a well-deserved award for advancing human rights. Then China calls that meddling in its affairs.

And Bu$hCo is selling out our future to these murdering psychopaths?

[Robeson]

42. Another shameful episode of the last 8 years...

...what else can be said.

[xchrom]

43. recommend -- not only is the surge not working - it's worse than we are being told. nt

[balantz]

44. I guess striking into Syria could force a conflict to try and further legitimize Iraq occupation?

[tabatha]

45. I guess there is one thing the US cannot do - threaten war.

[bobd0]

46. U.S. threatens to halt services? GOOD -- NOW GET THE HELL OUT! n/t

[JDPriestly]

47. Wait a minute.

If we have U.S. advisers helping in the fields of education, electricity production, etc., we have to be able to guarantee their safety. Can the Iraqi government guarantee their safety at this time? If not, the Iraqis need to take over not just the military authority but also make sure they can provide the police authority that protects people from other countries (not just American nationals but including American nationals) who might be working in humanitarian ways in their country. Can they do that without the presence of the American military?

I don't know the answer to this, but gradually withdrawing our troops from Iraq has to be done according to a plan that helps the Iraqi people.

Generally, in American law, a contract is not enforceable to the extent that agreement of one of the parties was extorted by threats. Here, I don't know enough about the terms that Bush is offering to the Iraqis to judge as to whether you can describe what is going on as extortion. It may be, but it may not be.

The Iraqis have to be able to guarantee (to a reasonable extent) the safety of their own people after we leave as well as the safety of any foreigners in their country. I don't know whether they can do that. Do you?

[klyon]

56. all foreign civilians need to leave before Jan , for their own safety

This is Iraq's chance to get rid of US troops, they should not sign. The UN should make us leave. This does not mean we should be let off the hook for the damage we have caused. We will be paying for Bush's folly for a long time to come, we owe for bombing civilian infrastructure which still has not been repaired. "Shock and Awe" was a crime against humanity. Most of those people still don't have electric and water.

[pinniped]

48. They're bluffing.

.

[barbtries]

50. sure sounds like blackmail to me

of course i'm thinking, do it - bring our soldiers home already. use the funds we're wasting there for jobs, infrastructure, education, and housing here.

this fucking administration can't do anything right.

"...or a renewed United Nations mandate for the American mission in Iraq." i read yesterday or the day before that the iraqis will not oppose this option. so this appears to me to be a non-issue.

i want us out of there. before we ever went in.

[apnu]

51. Hey Iraq, if you want us out, don't sign that and we'll be gone!

Its best for us and you. Then you can get the UN protection you've been wanting and we can quit throwing trillions down your toilet. Its win-win for everybody!



(edited to add the sarcasm tag)

[klyon]

57. no need for the sarcasm tag.. you stated the truth

see my post #56

[Diclotican]

59. apnu

apnu

You break it, you OWN it.. And indeed US have BREAK Iraq.... And they have to clean it up some how.. Don't even try to blame it on the UNITED NATIONS... Who the Bushishs by the way had just contempt for the last 8 year..

Funny because US was one of the nations who was instrumental in building the UN in the first place.. And now they want to let them do it

And for the record.. US are STILL am member of the UNITED NATION last time I was looking into it.. And therefore have the responsibility to help the Iraqi to a better future.. Now than they have blowing the iraqi country to smithereens.. Then they want to have the UN to bless their occupying of Iraq..

How unmoral, and stupid it is.. First the US was not even intersting to lisen to the UN, when you was been told verry clearly that if you got into war with Iraq, it could end in something verry bad.. And now the same Administration want the UN to clear the contunity of occupation of an other country.. Against the will of the iraqi pepole by the way...

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[olegramps]

53. I have a basic question?????

Why is a General Ray Odierno writing a letter to the Iraqi government officials? Why is it his function to threaten Iraqi civilian authorities? I have been under the impression that this is the duty of our political leaders. His duty is to conduct military operations. We never elected this person to be our representative. I believe that this is just another abuse of power by this dysfunctional administration that has taken our nation to the brink of ruin.

[florida08]

54. How many lies does it take

to impeach?
"We are there at the invitation of the Iraqi government. This is a sovereign nation. Twelve million people went to the polls to approve a constitution. It's their government's choice,’’ the president said during a Rose Garden news conference. "If they were to say leave, we would leave." (Bush on May 24 2007)
Thank goodness he didn't lie about a bj

[indepat]

55. Ruthless and indiscriminate criminality know no bounds