Iraq Criticizes Demands For Future of U.S. Role

[goodhue]

Source: Washington Post

Iraqis Condemn American Demands
Sides Negotiating U.S. Military Role

By Amit R. Paley and Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, June 11, 2008; A01

BAGHDAD, June 10 -- High-level negotiations over the future role of the U.S. military in Iraq have turned into an increasingly acrimonious public debate, with Iraqi politicians denouncing what they say are U.S. demands to maintain nearly 60 bases in their country indefinitely.

Top Iraqi officials are calling for a radical reduction of the U.S. military's role here after the U.N. mandate authorizing its presence expires at the end of this year. Encouraged by recent Iraqi military successes, government officials have said that the United States should agree to confine American troops to military bases unless the Iraqis ask for their assistance, with some saying Iraq might be better off without them.

"The Americans are making demands that would lead to the colonization of Iraq," said Sami al-Askari, a senior Shiite politician on parliament's foreign relations committee who is close to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. "If we can't reach a fair agreement, many people think we should say, 'Goodbye, U.S. troops. We don't need you here anymore.' "

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Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/10/AR2008061003415.html?hpid=topnews

[newfie11]

1. They never needed us there

So let's get out NOW!!!!!!!!!

[bdamomma]

2. I hope the Iraqi government just says NO and please Leave.

[dipsydoodle]

3. acrimonious

What a nice way to express the situation. I have to assume that's a polite synomym for fuck off.

[damntexdem]

4. Dubya doesn't want permanent bases in Iraq -- just for 50 years or so.

Of course, McSame would extend that to 100 years. But that's unnecessary -- the U.S. could pump out all of Iraq's oil much faster than that.