General in Iraq: Deal letting U.S. troops stay may break down (Kurds willing to host US troops)

[sabra]

Source: WashTimes

Kurds willing ot host troops after '08

SAMARRA, Iraq | In a blunt assessment, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, Army Gen. Raymond Odierno, said Thursday that there is a 20 percent to 30 percent chance that the United States and Iraq won't reach a deal to allow U.S. troops to operate in Iraq past Dec. 31.

On a scale of one to 10, "I'm probably a seven or eight that something is going to be worked out," Gen. Odierno told The Washington Times during a visit to the 101st Airborne Division in Samarra, about 120 miles north of Baghdad. "I think it's important for the government of Iraq. I think it's important for security and stability here."

Massoud Barzani, the president of the Kurdish Regional Government, told The Times on Wednesday evening that he would be happy to host U.S. troops if the central government in Baghdad refuses to do so.

"The people of Kurdistan highly appreciate the sacrifices American forces have made for our freedom," Mr. Barzani said at a reception in Washington after meetings with President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/31/general... /

[atreides1]

1. Where is Kurdistan?

The last time I looked there was no country by that name, Kurdistan ceased to exist after WWI. What remains is a part of the country of Iraq, and unless General Odierno advocates splitting Iraq up into it's three pre-WWI sections, the US will either have to continue to try to blackmail the Iraqi government, or just suck it up and accept what the Iraqi's want.

[bemildred]

3. Shhhhhh!

This is not the time or place for logic or reason.


Maybe we can get in a war between our friends the Kurds and our former friends the Turks.

[Javaman]

2. Of course the Kurds want us. they want us to help fight Turkey. LOL

another war that has been going on since we occupied iraq, made pie in the sky promices to the kurds and allowed the sunnis to be genocided.

Pull. Out. Now.

[bdab1973]

4. That wouldn't be a bad deal!

I would love to stay up north...while the southern and central parts of the country still are trying to get their shit together, Kurdistan (not a country but a semi-autonomous region) has been developing like crazy. They are building luxury condos in Erbil, along with a brand-new international airport that is much nicer than Baghdad International. They opened a city park that sports a swimming pool and playgrounds and it's really nice, complete with modern architecture and facilities. Sulaymaniyah is also nice too...very peaceful. Neither place sees hardly any violence. I wish the rest of the country could do what they are doing...they are putting aside the fighting and building a modern, clean and prosperous society.