Kerry says 2006 is 'crunch time' for Iraq

[sabra]

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/13663318.htm

Kerry says 2006 is 'crunch time' for Iraq



BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. Sen. John Kerry said Thursday that 2006 will be "crunch time" for Iraq's new government, which must show it is capable of running an ethnically divided and violence-wracked country.

Kerry said that if the government, which will be selected by the new parliament elected Dec. 15, can bridge deep sectarian divides and put competent officials in its key ministries, significant numbers of U.S. troops will begin to return by the end of the year.

"This is crunch time for everything we've invested and for everything they've invested," Kerry told reporters in Baghdad's Green Zone, adding later: "I'm confident that, providing the government makes the choices that are available to it, provided we continue to leverage that, that we will be in a position to see very significant numbers of forces return over the course of this year."

Kerry spent the day meeting with top Iraqi officials, including President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari. He had dinner the night before with more Iraqi officials and U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad.

[Teaser]

1. John, Iraq is dead

and it's time we get dressed up for the funeral. Crunch time happened a long time ago.

[The Stranger]

12. Kerry is talking about Iraq instead of the election they stole from him.

How so very sad.

[thebigidea]

2. i'm sure 2007 and 2008 will be equally crucial

[tatertop]

4. When did Kerry become a pandering fool?

Why is he pretending to buy into Bush's BIG LIES:
"Kerry made clear that the withdrawal of U.S. troops would only happen if Iraq's government functions effectively and Iraqi police and army units are trained properly."

He knows those goals are not clearly definable,
nothing more than Bush's sure fire excuse to remain in Iraq forever.

[MH1]

7. Bullshit.

Those goals CAN be clearly defined, and should be.

The difference is that Kerry would define those goals, define what needs to be done to make it happen, make it happen, then actually withdraw troops. Because he isn't all about lining the bank accounts of his cronies with $$$ made by exploiting Iraqi resources, which is what Bush is.

[MH1]

8. And another thing. Carrot/ stick.

He is telling Iraqi leaders, you want Americans out, without the country falling even further apart, this is what you have to do. Put together a government that respects all your ethnicities. Do that, we withdraw troops (and Iraqi people are happier with their government). And by implication: if you eff this up, it will be harder for us to convince BushCo to pull troops out.

Maybe they just ignore him anyway. But he can't hardly say, "sorry guys, Bush is going to continue exploiting you all no matter what you do so you know, just have that civil war, go right ahead." Or is that what you think he should have said?

[Strelnikov_]

3. Um, 2006 Is Going To Be Crunch Time Across The Board

- Global warming impacts (drought, massive hurricanes)
- Petroleum supply
- Natural gas supply
- And the big one, Iran.

[HannibalBarca]

5. .....

...Nice to see president Kerry performing his duties with maturity and intelligence. His reasoned analysis is refreshing and he embodies.....
Oops, was in my alternate world there, ah well, back to reality.

[leftchick]

6. kerry needs to quit using the chimps game plan with benchmarks

and join John Murtha in asking that the troops be redeployed the fuck out of Iraq. Now. TODAY!

:grr:

[pinerow]

9. These damned people, including Kerry, who I voted for are so

divorced from reality one has to wonder...What'n hell are they smoking...:wtf:

[Heewack]

10. Divorced from reality?

At least he's been to Iraq. Maybe it is some of us that are divorced from reality?

I can't understand how slamming Kerry helps anything.

[pinerow]

11. Kerry voted for the war in Itaq...he continues to support the

war in Iraq...and just because he is a Democratic Senator does not insulate him from criticism...what I would like to see him do is to take a leadership role in denouncing the war in Iraq for what it is...a war of opportunity...he could also take a leadership role in stopping Alito's confirmation...must I continue...?