Iraqi PM Calls for More Money and Troops

[ProSense]

Iraqi PM Calls for More Money and Troops

Iraqi Prime Minister Asking Congress for More Money and Troops for Fight Against Terror

By ANNE PLUMMER
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appealed to Congress Wednesday to press the war in Iraq with money and troops, portraying his country as crucial to the U.S. as a front line in the war on terror and comparing violence there to the Sept. 11 attacks.

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Without identifying exact amounts, al-Maliki lamented money that has wound up "in the hands of security contractors and foreign companies that operate with enormous profit margins," rather than in the hands of needy Iraqis.

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His words echoed those of Bush, who frequently asserts that Iraq is a central battleground against terrorism elsewhere, including on U.S. shores, and that the country can be a bulwark for the spread of freedom in the Middle East.

Al-Maliki made a direct connection to the 2001 attacks on the U.S., saying, "Thousands of lives were tragically lost on Sept. 11 when these impostors of Islam reared their ugly head. Thousands more continue to die in Iraq today at the hands of the same terrorists who show complete disregard for human life."

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Democrats sharply criticized the prime minister for painting a what they said was a "rosy" picture of Iraq and not condemning Hezbollah.

more...

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2239989&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

[babylonsister]

1. When will enough be enough?

:-(

[ProSense]

6. What strikes me is this

Without identifying exact amounts, al-Maliki lamented money that has wound up "in the hands of security contractors and foreign companies that operate with enormous profit margins," rather than in the hands of needy Iraqis.

Are they kidding? This administration is a miserable failure, and the Iraqi government has some responsibility in this, primarily continuing to be disingenuous about everything. It's time for U.S. troops to pack up, get out and let the Iraqi government solve its internal problems. Assistance, in terms of money and training, doesn't require the troops to stay bogged down in their civil war, and it certainly shouldn't involve throwing more money into an effort that isn't clearly defined and failing, not to mention corrupt.

[rodeodance]

9. there has been lots of articles about Iraqi gov. corruption--on and on,

started at the very beginning and we just throw money at this black hole.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. It's as if this hasn't been going on for years already.

Talk about a quagmire!

[knowbody0]

3. there is no excuse for the unemployement rate in Iraq

that foreign corporations are reaping the rewards of Iraqi destruction is immoral and one of the causes of the insurgency.

[Benhurst]

4. The honorable clowns will give him all the funds he wants.

[rodeodance]

5. Wonder if he had a WH speech-writer?

[rodeodance]

7. an article on DU said Irag gov. gave Lebanon 35 M$ (to help)

[rodeodance]

8. te he. good for the AP --does not make the situation look good for WH or

Irag.

[ProSense]

10. US may increase Iraq force by delaying departures

US may increase Iraq force by delaying departures

By Will Dunham 35 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military, faced with unrelenting violence in Baghdad, is expected to delay the departure of about 4,000 troops due to leaveIraq in the coming days in order to boost the size of the U.S. force, officials said on Wednesday.

In a sign that any significant cut in the 130,000-strong U.S. force in Iraq is unlikely soon, officials also said there are no plans to drop below the current level of 15 combat brigades this fall, as had previously been discussed.

The military, as it has been done periodically during the 3-year-old war, would temporarily increase the size of the U.S. force by extending the overlap between newly arriving units and those leaving.

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But the remaining roughly 3,700 troops are expected to have their departure delayed, the officials said. Officials could not say how long they will remain, but typically these delays have lasted a few weeks to a couple of months.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060726/ts_nm/iraq_usa_troops_dc_2