It is something that George Bush and his Republican drones have been against, it is what Democratic leaders have waffled on and something the Democratic base has wanted since we were ignored when we said "Do not go into Iraq." Now the Iraqis are speaking up and clamoring for it. That 'it' is a withdrawal timeline for U.S. soldiers to leave the country.
From RawStory:
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki raised the prospect on Monday of setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops as part of negotiations over a new security agreement with Washington.It was the first time the U.S.-backed Shi'ite-led government has floated the idea of a timetable for the removal of American forces from Iraq. The Bush administration has always opposed such a move, saying it would give militant groups an advantage.
In a statement, Maliki's office said the prime minister made the comments about the security pact -- which will replace a U.N. mandate for the presence of U.S. troops that expires on December 31 -- to Arab ambassadors in the United Arab Emirates.
Unfortunately this is only talk, talk without definite dates of departure. Yet it is an important step for Maliki, who has never gone this route before. Of course George Bush will be fighting this tooth and nail, because without a presence in Iraq he cannot keep defense contractors rolling in the amount of dough they've grown accustomed it. Too bad for him he only has a little more than six months to go in his term.....when President Obama will work with al-Maliki to get our troops out of there.
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