Posted by
Cary Wesberry on Monday, July 07, 2008 10:42:35 PM
BAGHDAD -- Iraq's prime minister said Monday his country wants some type of timetable for a withdrawal of American troops included in the deal the two countries are negotiating.
It was the first time that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has explicitly and publicly called for a withdrawal timetable _ an idea opposed by President Bush.
He offered no details. But his national security adviser, Mouwaffak al-Rubaie, told The Associated Press that the government is proposing a timetable conditioned on the ability of Iraqi forces to provide security.
In Washington, the State Department declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations and said officials in Washington were not yet entirely sure what al-Maliki had said.
"This falls in the category of ongoing negotiations, and I'm not going to talk about every single development, every single development in the negotiations," spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
Al-Maliki said in a meeting with Arab diplomats in Abu Dhabi that his country also has proposed a short-term interim memorandum of agreement rather than the more formal status of forces agreement the two sides have been negotiating.
The memorandum "now on the table" includes a formula for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, he said.
"The goal is to end the presence (of foreign troops)," al-Maliki said.
If the Iraqi government is capable and stable enough to secure their own country then I'm all for it, but not before. We cannot allow Iraqi pride to pave the way for Iran and/or al-Qaeda to plunge the new country back into chaos. We can sure use some of those soldiers over in Afghanistan though. Regardless the Iraqis will ultimately make the decision and it appears they are doing so responsibly. This is exactly what those of us who have supported the war from the beginning are wanting to see. As Iraqis stand up, we stand down. That was the deal from the start and it should remain so.
Victory for the United States is declared by Iraq providing security for itself. Such a reality would be a proud day for America. The majority of Iraqis are very intelligent, well-educated, and good people. There should be no doubt they can accomplish peaceful and productive goals if they set their hearts and minds to do so. I have had faith in this operation from the beginning and I am thankful for having held to my support of this great endeavour.