WP: Bush,Talabani Say No Timetable for Withdrawal (Talabani reversal)

[DeepModem Mom]

Bush, Talabani Say No Timetable for Withdrawal
Iraqi President Appears to Back Away From Earlier Remarks
By Daniela Deane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 13, 2005

President Bush and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said today they will not relent in the fight against insurgents in Iraq and that they agreed there should be no timetable for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.

Talabani's remarks at a White House news conference appeared to contradict comments he made in an interview with the Washington Post Monday that the United States could withdraw as many as 50,000 troops from Iraq by the end of the year.

In the interview, Talabani said he planned to discuss reductions in U.S. forces during a private meeting with Bush today, and he said he believed the United States could begin pulling out some troops immediately.

"We will set no timetable for withdrawal," Talabani said at the news conference, with Bush standing at a podium beside him. He said a timetable for withdrawal of American troops from his country would only "help the terrorists" and give them a "signal they can defeat us."

Talabani did say that he hoped that by the end of 2006, Iraqi troops would be able to take control of Iraq, but he insisted that would happen only with the "complete agreement of America." Talabani's comments came immediately following the private White House meeting....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/13/AR2005091300940.html

[bribri16]

1. Wonder how much that cost us? n.t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Thousands of lives.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Chilling response, RiF -- but tragically true. nt