Iraq and U.S. Clash Over Timetable

Who would have thought when Harry Reid said “This war is lost” that Iraq would turn into a self governing entity. The Democrats were trying to get a timetable for retreat in Iraq, something many thought should be an Iraqi decision. Bush was pleading for a little time for the surge to work which would give the Iraqi government the confidence to make their own decision. The Democrats scoffed and ridiculed the General the POTUS  trusted to lead the surge. Well today the Iraqi government took a major step to self rule.

BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq’s national security adviser said Tuesday his country will not accept any security deal with the United States unless it contains specific dates for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces.

The comments by Mouwaffak al-Rubaie were the strongest yet by an Iraqi official about the deal now under negotiation with U.S. officials. They came a day after Iraq’s prime minister first said publicly that he expects the pending troop deal with the United States to have some type of timetable for withdrawal.

President Bush has said he opposes a timetable. The White House said Monday it did not believe Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was proposing a rigid timeline for U.S. troop withdrawals.

U.S. officials had no immediate comment Tuesday on al-Rubaie’s statement.

The Iraqi proposal stipulates that, once Iraqi forces have resumed security responsibility in all 18 of Iraq’s provinces, U.S.-led forces would then withdraw from all cities in the country.

After that, the country’s security situation would be reviewed every six months, for three to five years, to decide when U.S.-led troops would pull out entirely, al-Adeeb said.

Update: The United States on Tuesday rejected a demand from Iraq for a specific date for pullout of US-led foreign troops from the country, saying any withdrawal will be based on conditions on the ground.

"The US government and the government of Iraq are in agreement that we, the US government, we want to withdraw, we will withdraw. However, that decision will be conditions-based," State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said.

It will be interesting how Obama explains the to the anti-war voter how he will ride this wave of success in Iraqi for the next 3 to 5 years. Obama can not withdraw the troops as long as the reality of mass chaos from all sides which could lead to 10 times the casualties and the cost of having to redeploy and start all over again.....Those who believed Obamas 16 month withdrawal pledge will need to readjust their strategy....  mpress