Fallujah accord leaves US policy in disarray

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=488292004

THE United States’ policy on Iraq was in disarray last night, as the Pentagon admitted it was unaware of a breakthrough agreement to end the siege of Fallujah announced by its troops on the ground.

While a new poll showed a majority of Iraqis want US and British troops to leave in the next few months, an American marine commander revealed that his troops were preparing to withdraw from the outskirts of Fallujah, a major U-turn in US policy.

Lieutenant Colonel Brennan Byrne said a newly created Iraqi force of 1,100 soldiers, called the Fallujah Protective Army and led by a former general from Saddam Hussein’s army, would take over security in the besieged city.

It was a deal few of his superiors seemed aware of.

In Washington, Larry Di Rita, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said: "There’s no deal that we’re aware of." He added that he could not rule out that an agreement was in place, but said that officials at the US military command in Baghdad told him they could not confirm a final deal was sealed.

In Washington, Paul Wolfowitz, the US deputy defence secretary, said the situation in Fallujah was confusing but a deal was being worked on.
....


To add to the sense of disarray, US marines to the south of Fallujah were yesterday packing up their kit and destroying earthworks in apparent preparation for withdrawal. Yet elsewhere in the city, airstrikes were being launched against insurgent positions and gunfire could be heard last night.

The marines’ siege of Fallujah is the most controversial military action undertaken by coalition forces since the end of the war....Sunni and Shiite communities alike have expressed their anger at the US tactics, and members of the coalition-appointed Iraqi Governing Council have threatened to resign if the fighting continues. Confirmation of the coalition’s unpopularity came yesterday, with the publication of a poll which showed that, despite concerns about their own safety, the majority of Iraqis say they want the US and British troops now in Iraq to leave within the next few months.

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THE United States? policy on Iraq was in disarray last night, as the Pentagon admitted it was unaware of a breakthrough agreement to end the siege of Fallujah announced by its troops on the ground.

:shrug:

the Pentagon didn't get the "script" in time -- probably a "memo mal-function" -- one hand didn't know what the other was doing

watch the spin on this one -- pullout in Fallujah will be touted as being a victory for Iraqi "democracy" and it's just the first step in turning over control in order to meet the 6/30 deadline

to leave the country. Put Wolfie on a box with a hood and wires attached to his fingers. Make him tell us all why it was so important to start this damn war in the first place. Take his picture giving Cheney a BJ and stack all the neocons in a naked pyramid with some Iraqi women pointing to their little penises!

Better yet, leave him with the prisoners who were tortured by our troops. I'm sure they will make him feel right at home, even though he may not sit down for a while.

There's an existing Late Breaking News thread on this topic. Please continue the discussion here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x522752

Thanks! :hi: