Iraq insists on withdrawal timetable for US troops

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. It 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 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.

Aaron wrote:I wonder why Jimmy Carter didn't do something instead of just talking 30 years ago???

The Carter energy proposal is praised for setting priorities, but is criticized for the adverse effects it will have on Texas and other energy-producing states.^Specific criticisms find the plan is less than a total energy policy, distributes sacrifices unevenly, provides inadequate incentives for oil and gas exploration, is confusing on how coal conversion and environmental constraints can be made compatible, and imposes even more regulatory complexity on top of an already over-regulated market.^The new policy is seen as an attempt to solve too many socio-economic problems rather than develop energy.^Institutionalization of the energy program, it is felt, will be counter to the way energy development has progressed in Texas, i.e., supplies increase as prices go up.^A counter proposal is made to establish a system of competitive fuels and to support production of oil and gas in order to avoid disruptions while other fuels are developed.^Carter`s fuel conservation plan is felt to be inadequate because its lack of a comprehensive approach to transportation discriminates against the automobile.^(DCK)

Aaron wrote:I'm confused. I thought everyone in that part of the world wanted us gone.

Iraqi foreign minister urges security deal with US By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 8 minutes ago



BAGHDAD - Iraq's foreign minister says the country has little choice but to sign a new security agreement with the U.S. that would let American troops stay in the country after a U.N. mandate expires.

Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari recently returned to Iraq after meeting with President Bush in Washington to discuss the agreement, which has been criticized by many Iraqi officials worried it would leave too much power in U.S. hands.

But Zebari told parliament Tuesday that the only other options were to extend the U.N. mandate that expires at the end of the year or continue without a formal agreement, neither of which holds much appeal to Iraqis.

He said an agreement would last one or two years and urged Iraqi officials to finalize it by the end of July.

U.S. Army General: Iraqi Security Forces Still Need Help
Wednesday, July 09, 2008

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army three-star general who for a year led efforts to train Iraq's army and police units says progress is mixed and U.S. help is needed for the foreseeable future.

Lt. Gen. James Dubik was expected to tell the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday that the size of Iraq's security forces have grown by more than a quarter — from 444,000 to 566,000 — since he assumed command of the Multi-National Security Transition Command in June 2007. And, he says, the forces are improving their ability to execute operations on their own.

But the fast-growing force lacks experienced military leaders and the inability to train all of its new recruits, Dubik says.

"As I often said to my command in Baghdad, 'progress doesn't result in no problems, it results in new problems,"' he wrote in prepared testimony for the hearing.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,378321,00.html