US troops to control Iraq for at least another year

[Barrett808]

BAGHDAD (AFP) - US forces will remain in charge of security in Iraq for at least another year and stay until local security forces are robust enough take over, the commander of grounds forces in Iraq said.

At a press conference in Baghdad focusing on security almost a year after the war to oust Saddam Hussein began, Lieutenant-General Ricardo Sanchez said US troops would still be at the helm in Iraq during next year's general elections.

"This time next year is exactly when the Iraqi people are going to be conducting their elections and there will be a requirement for us to maintain security and stability across this whole country," he said.

"At this time next year they (Iraqi security forces) will be much better off in capability but they won't be at the end stage that is necessary to take care of the entire country," he said.

"Coalition military forces will continue to equip, to mentor and to train and to command and control our partners as long as it takes," he said.

"I think the equipping function, the training function and the manning are all things that we will make sure are properly in place and that the operational experience is in force before we leave them on their own."

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040311/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_us_security&cid=1514&ncid=1480

[htuttle]

1. Then there will be a Shia uprising against the US

Ayatollah Sistani has stated again and again: If the US troops are not completely out of the country by June 30, he will call for an intifada. They said the posters are already made and distributed around Iraq, ready to be posted on walls. All they are waiting for is the word from Sistani.

Does the US think he's kidding? Do they not care?

Are they all drunk again?

[leftchick]

3. Are you sure it is June 30?

I thought he wanted them gone after their elections which are to happen before Dec. 30. Wow June 30! Yikes!

[htuttle]

4. Here's some googling on it

Shiite Leader Sistani Threatens Intifada Against U.S.
2/21/2004

Iraqi Shiite Leader Seyyid Ali Al-Sistani yesterday warned that he would call for an intifada (uprising) if American soldiers stayed in Iraq after the handover of power on June 30, 2004. He also insisted that there should be a significant role for the Shiite in the future administration of the country, as they make up the majority of the population.

Sistani spoke to the German magazine Der Spiegel and said: "The U.S. presence in Iraq should not be prolonged. The Iraqi public knows how to act. If the U.S. presence is drawn out longer than necessary, I will call for an intifada." The necessary posters reportedly have already been printed and are awaiting distribution to every corner of the country.

Sostani's comments come in the wake of Commander of the Coalition Ground Forces in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez's statement on Wednesday that American troops might continue their deployment in Iraq for years to come and U.S.-Appointed Administrator to Iraq Paul Bremer's request yesterday that coalition members to maintain a presence in Iraq until the end of December 2005.

(more at link)
http://www.zaman.org/?bl=international&alt=&trh=20040221&hn=5613

Here's one that indicates a little bit of flexibility in al-Sistani's position, but not much:

Top Iraqi Cleric Ready to Accept Small Delay in General Elections


Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani
Iraqi Shiite leader Ali al-Sistani says he would accept a short delay in general elections, as long as they are prepared according to a U.N. Security Council resolution. The top Iraqi Shi'ite cleric spoke in an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel.

In a rare interview with the German news magazine, Der Spiegel, the Shi'ite leader, Ali al-Sistani, said he would accept a short delay in holding general elections in Iraq. The cleric told the magazine, the U.S. decision to transfer power to an interim authority selected in regional meetings was a delaying tactic. He said any non-elected authority taking over from the U.S.-led coalition must have only a limited authority.

(snip)

The cleric said in the interview that, if the United States did not take his views into account, he would call for an intifada. He said posters in support of religious war have already been printed.

(more at link)
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=9E8D72F6-B513-4DA1-90676568BCB8FB8B

Note, however, it only mentions the general elections being slightly delayed as acceptable. He does not say that it's now okay for US troops to remain in the country.

[leftchick]

5. Thank you htuttle....

Good God this is scary. Bring the troops home now!

[Columbia]

7. There is not a direct quote of him saying June 30

"Longer than necessary" is obviously open-ended.

[htuttle]

10. Well, in that case, nevermind then

Since there's no direct quote, I'm sure everything will be just fine.

:eyes:

[Columbia]

11. Just trying to stop the spread of misinformation

[DennisReveni]

2. Pull the other one now

Just a year? Only a year?
Maybe someone should look into those US bases in Iraq.
Unless those will be turned over to the natives in a year.

[Ganja Ninja]

6. I didn't know they were in control of it now.

We're there but it looks to me like a free for all.

[argonne]

8. The U.S. will be in Iraq until the

oil is gone. Not a day shorter.

The U.S. will be in Iraq for the next 50 years.

[tom_paine]

9. Shocked! I am SHOCKED!

So, the Busheviks lied again.

Yeah? Well the sun rose this morning, too.

[Mari333]

12. GET MY KID OUT OF THERE NOW

http://www.bringthemhomenow.com
http://www.mfso.org