NYT: Iraq Decides It Still Needs U.S.-Led Military Presence

The new government of Iraq has decided to postpone any demand for negotiations to establish a more formal legal basis for the presence of American and other foreign troops on its soil, Iraqi and American officials said this week.

Instead, these officials said, Iraq will allow the current United Nations mandate to remain in effect beyond a deadline next Thursday for a review of Security Council Resolution 1637, which provides legal authority for the American-led military coalition to continue its combat operations.

"I've just finished speaking with my foreign minister, who intends to be in New York for the review, and it will not be a point at which we terminate," Samir al-Sumaidaie, Iraq's new ambassador to the United States, said Friday. The new government led by Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki is the first full-term government to take power in Iraq since the American invasion more than three years ago.

Iraq has the right to unilaterally end the United Nations troops mandate at any time, as spelled out in the resolution approved unanimously by the Security Council last Nov. 8.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/world/middleeast/11troops.ready.html

How come it is the NY Times saying this shit for obvious domestic consumption in the US?

is a consideration. That and the money that we continuously funnel into that country, right after we take it away from the things we need in this country.

I am not of the mindset that I don't believe that we don't owe the Iraqi people bigtime. We destroyed their country, we do owe them. But fixing what we broke just ain't happening. The money doesn't go to benefit the real victims of our invasion. Unless you can count reparations money that we pay for killing innocent civilians, which I DON'T. That's incredible, mind boggling. "Sorry we killed Grandma and your two sons, here's $7,500.00 to cover your loss." Now that is just obscene. And their 'government' hasn't said a word. And THAT'S why they need us there like I said. They'd be toast.

Jeez, I'm rambling. I just watched Lewis Black. He has that effect on you.

Since congress just approved permanent bases in Iraq, I don't think it's up to the Iraqis anyway. The decider has decided.

to unilaterally end the United Nations troops mandate at any time, as spelled out in the resolution approved unanimously by the Security Council last Nov. 8." :rofl:


Oh. You mean it's not a joke?

Without U.S. troops and the fortifications of the Green Zone.