I wonder what McCain will say about this...

[margotb822]

U.S., Iraqi Negotiators Agree on 2011 Withdrawal

BAGHDAD, Aug. 21 -- U.S. and Iraqi negotiators have agreed to the withdrawal of all U.S. combat forces from the country by the end of 2011, and Iraqi officials said they are "very close" to resolving the remaining issues blocking a final accord that governs the future American military presence here.

Iraqi and U.S. officials said several difficult issues remain, including whether U.S. troops will be subject to Iraqi law if accused of committing crimes. But the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were unauthorized to discuss the agreement publicly, said key elements of a timetable for troop withdrawal once resisted by President Bush had been reached.

"We have a text," Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said after a day-long visit Thursday by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Rice and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki spent nearly three hours here discussing key undecided issues. The accord must be completed and approved by both governments before a United Nations mandate expires at the end of the year.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/21/AR2008082100310_pf.html




Any one else believe that JSM3 will spin this into the success of the surge and that he supported it all along?

Obama needs to take this and run with it. He was right and has been right all along and will continue to be right in the future! This is the judgement America needs!

[Enrique]

1. he'll say it's a translation mistake

that actually the deal is for the troops to stay forever.

[Egnever]

2. I would be really carefull getting behind this timetable thing

the awakening is sounding like its ending and we could see a big increase in violence very soon.

There's some scary shit going on in the background.

http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20080822/ZNYT03/808220400&title=Iraq_Takes_Aim_at_Leaders_of_U_S__Tied_Sunni_Groups

BAGHDAD — The Shiite-dominated government in Iraq is driving out many leaders of Sunni citizen patrols, the groups of former insurgents who joined the American payroll and have been a major pillar in the decline in violence around the nation.


In restive Diyala Province, United States and Iraqi military officials say there were orders to arrest hundreds of members of what is known as the Awakening movement as part of large security operations by the Iraqi military. At least five senior members have been arrested there in recent weeks, leaders of the groups say.

[margotb822]

3. I don't think the timetable is the problem

The whole Iraq invasion was the problem. I'm not so keen on the "you break it, you buy it" policy. Besides, if we're going to get down into the roots of the problems, where did Iraq's borders even come from? This Iraq war can go on forever, which is why we have to leave. There will never be a "win" in the traditional sense because this is not a traditional war. If we look at the benefits to America, there haven't been any. How long will we stay on this path?