Aide: Iraqi PM's comments misconstrued (a US troop was killed Saturday)

[rodeodance]

Source: ap



Aide: Iraqi PM's comments misconstrued

By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 47 minutes ago

BAGHDAD .............

"We say in full confidence that we are able, God willing, to take the responsibility completely in running the security file if the international forces withdraw at any time they want," al-Maliki said.

Those comments appeared to undercut President Bush's contention that the 155,000 U.S. troops must remain in Iraq because the Iraqis are not capable of providing for their own security.

On Sunday, al-Maliki's adviser Yassin Majid told The Associated Press that the prime minister meant that efforts to bolster Iraq's security forces would continue "side-by-side with the withdrawal."

Majid urged the United States to continue building up Iraqi forces so they would be ready whenever the White House orders a troop withdrawal.
...............

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070715/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_ylt=AvKcuOMs9hiciRXNR5nhIZys0NUE

[rodeodance]

1. In the first 14 days of July, 301 bodies were found in Baghdad,

.......The offensives are "making a difference on the ground. We have seen a significant drop in the number of civilians murdered in Baghdad, the overall levels of sectarian violence has decreased," he said, without providing figures.

Recent weeks appear to have brought a decrease in dramatic car bomb attacks, though bombings still occur nearly daily. But according to figures gathered by The Associated Press, the daily rate of bodies found dumped in Baghdad — victims of sectarian slayings — has risen slightly so far this month from June.

In the first 14 days of July, 301 bodies were found in Baghdad, or an average of nearly 22 a day, compared to 19 a day in June, when 563 bodies were found, according to AP figures, gathered from daily reports by Iraqi police.

[saigon68]

2. "Freedom is on the March" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE