Iraq May Send US Force Home In 2 To 3 Years -Talabani

[ECH1969]

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani Thursday said his country could send U.S.-led troops home in two to three years, once Iraq has set up its own domestic force.

"Two to three years are needed to build our security forces and say bye bye to our friends," Talabani said at a conference in Paris.

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20061102%5cACQDJON200611020445DOWJONESDJONLINE000427.htm&

[mazzarro]

1. Yeah - right! -n/t

[wellst0nev0ter]

2. Pay Them First

Militias steal new recruits with better pay and perks
By Daniel McGrory

Iraq'a militias are growing in strength, attracting many recruits from the US-run police academy

SOON after he graduated near the top of his class at the American-run police academy, Alah defected. He did not bother to inform his superiors. The young Iraqi police officer simply walked into a recruitment office in a rundown neighbourhood of Baghdad and signed on for the Mahdi Army, the private militia run by the radical young cleric Moqtada al-Sadr that has been blamed for some of the most savage atrocities in this city in recent weeks.

The 23-year-old absconder described it as “a career move”. The pay was better, the duties less onerous and there was far less chance of being killed.

<snip>

[mallard]

3. Re: reining in militants ...

... driven largely by foreign occupation demands a strategy based on reclaiming sovereignty. I don't blame the guy for trying to win wider support and ease the inter-Iraqi tensions this way.

It's a foundation maker for any free republic to out the armed farangs, gentlemen (and women).