June 30, 2009

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Jiro

Jiro

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That's the date of deadline for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq.

Iraq's Cabinet approves U.S. security pact
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The Iraqi Cabinet on Sunday approved a security pact that would set the terms for U.S. troops in Iraq.

The agreement sets June 30, 2009, as the deadline for U.S. troops to withdraw from all Iraqi cities and towns, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.

The date for all troops to leave Iraq will be December 31, 2011, he said.

These dates are "set and fixed" and are "not subject to the circumstances on the ground," he said.

Twenty-seven of the 40 Cabinet members in attendance voted in favor of the agreement, said Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. One minister abstained.

The Cabinet consists of the prime minister, two deputy prime ministers, and 37 other ministers.

The approved draft will be sent to the Council of Representatives, Iraq's 275-seat parliament, later Sunday, where it will be put to another vote. "There is great optimism that they will pass it," said Industry Minister Fawzi Hariri.

Al-Dabbagh said the parliament speaker and his deputies will decide when the parliament will vote on the agreement. He said there were "positive attitudes" when the major political blocs met to discuss the draft plan on Saturday.

Zebari said the parliament will reach a decision before it takes a 15-day recess on November 25.

In Washington, a spokesman for the National Security Council described the agreement as "an important and positive step."

"While the process is not yet complete, we remain hopeful and confident we'll soon have an agreement that serves both the people of Iraq and the United States well, and sends a signal to the region and the world that both our governments are committed to a stable, secure and democratic Iraq," said Gordon Johndroe.

"While there is still much work to be done, U.S. forces continue to return home and there will be 14 Brigade Combat Teams at the end of this year, down from 20 at the height of the surge," he added.

Earlier, Sami al-Askari, an adviser to the Iraqi prime minister, said the draft included changes that made it "satisfactory" for the Iraqis.

For months, the United States and Iraq have been negotiating a proposed status of forces agreement. It would set the terms for U.S. troops in Iraq after the U.N. mandate on their presence expires at the end of this year.

Many Iraqi officials say they will oppose any deal that hints at compromising the country's sovereignty.

Iraqi cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said in a statement on his official Web site last week that he will "forbid any stance that targets the sovereignty of Iraq no matter how small it is."

In late October, Iraqi officials submitted several amendments to the draft plan to U.S. negotiators in Baghdad.

Zebari said at the time that the proposed changes called for a fixed timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal; a specific number of sites and locations that would be used by the U.S. military; and Iraqi jurisdiction over U.S. forces who commit certain crimes in Iraq.

Al-Dabbagh said the Cabinet on Sunday also approved a "draft framework" agreement between the U.S. and Iraq.

This agreement "establishes the principles of cooperation and friendship in the political, diplomatic, educational, health and environmental fields in addition to economic, energy, information technology, communication fields," al-Dabbagh said.
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Oh brother....that's not really great news. It looks like Obama will have to deal with the war until his last year of the presidency in 2012 which will be a re-election.
 
Why is it not a great news? I think it's great! It shows that Iraq can deal with its own problems. We don't need to deal with them!
 
sequoias said:
Oh brother....that's not really great news. It looks like Obama will have to deal with the war until his last year of the presidency in 2012 which will be a re-election.
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I'm not sure I understand. They're withdrawing next year.. that's in Obama's first year of Presidency, not end.
 
netrox said:
Why is it not a great news? I think it's great! It shows that Iraq can deal with its own problems. We don't need to deal with them!
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Exactly!

Personally, I'm thrilled about this and think it's about time we withdraw our troops.
 
The rest of the australian army will be withdrawn next year too, but more than half of the whole army has been withdrawn earlier this year, within the Rudd Government. Which is good news, Iraq and whatnot can deal with their problems now, since the iraq soliders has been trained to do what they have to, and the australians trained them
 
Finally my uncle can retire as he have been wanting to for long time and I don't have to worry about my other uncle being in the recuse group risking others that are anti-Americans.

Great news! :)
 
sequoias said:
Oh brother....that's not really great news. It looks like Obama will have to deal with the war until his last year of the presidency in 2012 which will be a re-election.
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Re-read the first post again.
 
In the article it said ALL troops have to leave Iraq by Dec 31, 2011. June 30, 2009 is when they first start leaving, I think.
 
sequoias said:
In the article it said ALL troops have to leave Iraq by Dec 31, 2011. June 30, 2009 is when they first start leaving, I think.
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Some of the troops are already leaving now. They leave the cities on June 30th but not Iraq till 2011.
 
Troops leave out of cities and towns by June 30, 2009 but leave some numbers in Iraq probably for the borders, infrastructures, etc till 2011 to complete. It would make sense not to leave completely too early yet.
 
You guys know what? I am with seq's post! ;)

sequoias said:
Oh brother....that's not really great news. It looks like Obama will have to deal with the war until his last year of the presidency in 2012 which will be a re-election.
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I do agree thats not exclusive news which the troop withdrawal iraq in 2011!
 
I disagree. We need to withdraw our troops as soon as possible. After all, we can't keep fighting Iraq's battles for them. They have to learn how to meet their own needs on their own. Better that our troops start being withdrawn next June than never.
 
2012 is too far to wait another four long years, wouldn't it?
 
Its just so funny how people percieve withdrawing the troops. Basically either way, people are going to be pissed off.

1) withdraw all the troops hastily at once, iraq collapses and a civil war breaks out--epic
fail. Really makes it look like a total waste of time, and money why we are doing what
we're doing there. Nevermind the fact that based on faulty decisions and assumptions
Bush did what he did. Might as well fix what he started--and finish it correctly. Last
thing we need is a country in the best strategical location in the middle east become
an uncontrolable unsupervised hotbed of muslim radicals/extremists.

2) withdraw a few thousand at a time and see America bitch and complain even a democrat is
following the Bush doctrine by extending the war even though its the right thing to do to make
sure Iraq as a country can correctly stand on its own 2 feet and function well at full strength.
 
Hear Again said:
I disagree. We need to withdraw our troops as soon as possible. After all, we can't keep fighting Iraq's battles for them. They have to learn how to meet their own needs on their own. Better that our troops start being withdrawn next June than never.
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thing is - Iraq wants us OUT. They repeatedly demanded that we leave their country.
 
Jiro said:
thing is - Iraq wants us OUT. They repeatedly demanded that we leave their country.
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I know, but the Bush Administration is saying otherwise. Then again, what else do you expect?
 
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