Howard warns Maliki: act or face pullout

[struggle4progress]

Source: The Australian

Greg Sheridan, Foreign editor | August 11, 2007

JOHN Howard has demanded the Iraqi Government make faster progress towards resolving the country's political differences or face the prospect of a withdrawal of Australian troops and those of other Western nations.

The Prime Minister, in a blunt letter to his Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki, urges the Iraqi Government to speed the sharing of oil wealth among all sections of the Iraqi community, including the minority Sunni population.

In the letter, sent last week, Mr Howard warns that if the Iraqis fail to make progress, the public support for Australia's military deployment to Iraq may not be sustainable. ~snip~

The letter displays Mr Howard's deep and growing frustration with the Maliki Government, which has suspended sittings of the Iraqi parliament for the whole of this month. With the federal election looming, it shows Mr Howard is under real political pressure on Iraq for the first time. ~snip~

Read more: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22224976-31477,00.html

---

Howard's letter to Iraqi PM motivated by election: Rudd
August 11, 2007 - 3:14PM
Prime Minister John Howard's threat to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq is motivated by the looming federal election, Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd says ~snip~ Just before the last election, Mr Howard said he wouldn't increase the troop numbers in Iraq, then after the election those troop numbers were virtually doubled," Mr Rudd told reporters in Brisbane today. "Now (in the lead-up to the next election) Mr Howard is saying our troops in Iraq, our combat forces, may not be there for much longer - that's the inference from the correspondence with the Iraqi prime minister." ~snip~
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/rudd-slams-iraq-move/2007/08/11/1186530663738.html

Nelson defends Howard's warning to Iraqis
Posted 4 hours 14 minutes ago
Updated 4 hours 9 minutes ago
~snip~ "I think the Prime Minister's message to the Iraqi Prime Minister that says, 'Look, if you're not prepared to help yourself why should we help you', that's the sort of message that Australia basically gives out throughout the world." ~snip~
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/11/2002515.htm

[flyarm]

1. faster progress for what?? the oil ?? is that it howard?? the oil????

you sniviling little coward Howard..you are no better than little lord pissy pants..its all about the oil isn't it you prick???????

well it seems howard..that iraq has decided to work with iran and their pipelines together for their oil..yes you read that right..their oil..not your oil.. howard..and not pissy pants oil..you only "think " it is your oil..but look here bubba..it is "their oil" to do as they please ..and they do not please to please you or pissy pants!!

fly

[saigon68]

7. Howard = Bag of Fart

[azurnoir]

2. I am sure Mr Maliki is quaking in his shoes-not

do the Iraqis really care if Australia pulls out? No, most likely not, and they know the US who's troops make up at least 75% if not more of the "coalition" troops is not going any where, at least not while there is a Republican in the WH and the oil deal is not signed.

[Purveyor]

3. Nouri al-Maliki might just tell John Howard to 'piss off', Iran is more than ready to supplant any

withdrawal of aussie forces and 'then some' with their own loyal Shiite forces...

[onewholaughsatfools]

4. it seems to me

it seems to me all the billions that are missing, that bush has thought the prime minister well, take the money and run i am sure there is a safe house in Crawford Texas as the country falls apart.........

[Meldread]

5. Here is what happened after Maliki read the letter.

He receives the letter in the mail, reads it, then laughs. He writes back:

Dear Howie,

Feel free to take your ten or so troops home. We'll continue to let the American's prop us up. No oil for you!

Love,
Maliki

[countmyvote4real]

6. Exactly.

It's "their" (whomever controls the resources of the Iraqi people) oil. If they want to hold out for a better offer, then more power to them. Plus, why should they look a "gift horse in the mouth" (that's mostly the US troops propping up Maliki's control) when he doesn't really have to do anything but sit by as the price of his commission/parachute goes up?

If Maliki lives to sign a deal with big oil, he will be out of there a whole lot faster than US troops.

[Timex]

8. Howard is threatening to pull out his troops

Is that supposed to make Maliki shiver with fear?