Thread: Iraq News

[quote=Texpat;694754]






.....

Anybody going to the homecoming parade? Panda, Anty, Sabang? Wanna join me? It'll be a great time. Budweiser and hotdogs with ketchup, cheering for the brave troops and waving our beloved flag.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

Budweiser is a poor-man's beer. .(Texpat 21 June 2008)

I've never claimed to be rich -- and I ain't gonna offer that lot Krystal and caviar.

HOUSTON — President Bush agreed to “a general time horizon” for withdrawing American troops in Iraq, the White House announced Friday, in a concession that reflected both progress in stabilizing Iraq and the depth of political opposition to an open-ended military presence in Iraq and at home.

Mr. Bush, who has long derided timetables for troop withdrawals as dangerous, agreed to at least a notional one as part of the administration’s efforts to negotiate the terms for an American military presence in Iraq after a United Nations mandate expires at the end of the year.

The agreement, announced in coordinated statements released Friday by the White House and Prime Minister Maliki's government, reflected a significant shift in the war in Iraq. More than five years after the conflict began with the overthrow of Saddam Husseins government, the American military presence now depends significantly, if not completely, on Iraqi acquiescence.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/wo...th&oref=slogin


Quite a shift in position- a turnaround actually. So Iraq will not be the big US middle eastern Barracks as envisaged. Oil will be the sole 'big thing' in Iraq. Then again, it always was.

I wonder if the US taxpayers will now start wondering about those huge US military facilities constructed by Halliburton on no bid contracts?

Or the fact that Baghdad contains the worlds largest embassy?

Still, in it's recent softening of positions on Iran and Iraq, the Bush admin is finally starting to show some common sense.

Texpat:

Anybody going to the homecoming parade? Panda, Anty, Sabang? Wanna join me? It'll be a great time. Budweiser and hotdogs with ketchup, cheering for the brave troops and waving our beloved flag.

The US forces will be in Iraq for 10-15 years or longer. Less numbers of them will be there of course, but their presence will be there. This was likely the intention.

I don't think there will ever be a victory parade. Because the definition of victory means different things to different people.

Also: equating the raising of the flag on Iwa Jima with Iraq?

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has been quoted saying that US troops should leave Iraq "as soon as possible".
He called US presidential candidate Barack Obama's suggestion of 16 months "the right timeframe for a withdrawal".
In an interview with Germany's Der Spiegel weekly, Maliki said he was not seeking to endorse the Democratic US presidential contender, but that keeping troops in Iraq for too long would cause trouble.
Obama has pledged to withdraw combat troops from Iraq within 16 months if he is elected.
"That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes," Maliki was quoted as saying.
"Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic. Artificially prolonging the tenure of US troops in Iraq would cause problems."

US troops should leave asap: Iraqi PM - Breaking News - World - Breaking News

Al-Maliki should be careful what he wishes for. Wasn't his cabinet, a year ago when things looked grim, requesting US troops to remain well into the 20-teens?

I would imagine very few US servicemen want to stay there any longer than absolutely necessary. No booze. No babes. No porn. No fun.

Also: equating the raising of the flag on Iwa Jima with Iraq?

Yeah, the forum handicaps anyone who wants to post a US flag by burying them into the 15th page of smilies. All the wanky brit smilies are right up there on top though in the pull-down menu. I can't be bothered to look. Guess I'm just not as patriotic as those poms who claim to despise patriotism.

If you find yourself in Fallujah with a hankerin' for some yardbird, you're in luck!

Kentucky Fried Chicken Sizzles in Fallujah



How 'bout that Surge, eh?

Kentucky Fried Chicken Sizzles in Fallujah

^Fuck yeah! Gonna have mother-fukin' Golden Arches in Tehran before were done with this mother-foking war!

Not a good time to be a cat in Fallujah.

So there I was yesterday, watching the news in my living room.

It appears half the Iraqi parliament seems to think a precipitous withdrawal of US troops is a good idea, the other half believe that a slower, measured exit is a much better idea.

I'll leave the guns and soldiers to the militarys -- and the decisions to the politicians. But what struck me is that the democratically-elected parliament, comprised of Iraqis of all flavors, is free to make independent policy based on what is best for their country. There is no 500-pound gorilla in the room swaying others with fear and reprisal. Open disagreement does not spell the end of a career/life. The lawmakers, elected by the people, have their own future in their hands.

The sun is shining on Baghdad.

Originally Posted by Texpat

The sun is shining on Baghdad.

It may shine. We'll have to wait and see. But yes, it may shine in the future.

Thanks to over $1+ Trillion dollars of American taxpayer money.

A Shiite government in Iraq, linked with Iran. Basra will even be more semi-autonomous and allied and influenced with Iran.

Originally Posted by Milkman

A Shiite government in Iraq

Seconded. A shit and puppet government in Iraq which is going to be toppled as soon as the Americans leave. Right now more emphasis is on who gets what. All future deals and ties are being set and all the major contracts for reconstruction of Iraq and its oil infrastructure going to American companies.

A good way to use U.N sanctions.... in 1972 when Iraqi oil was nationalized, American and British oil companies were thrown out while all major deals were set with companies from China, Russia, France etc etc but the dynamic duo imposed sanctions through their bitch U.N made sure that those companies won't get dick out of Iraq. When the time was right....BOOM!..... INVASION.... out goes Saddam and in comes the dynamic duo. What a fucked up world it is.

Originally Posted by Texpat

Thanks to over $1+ Trillion dollars of American borrowed money.

Edited for accuracy.

Originally Posted by machangezi

all the major contracts for reconstruction of Iraq and its oil infrastructure going to American companies.

While the major major contracts have yet to be awarded, so far this is not the case. Even the French Total group has been awarded contracts, which pleasantly surprised me. And obviously BP & Shell have their snouts in the trough too.

Originally Posted by bkkandrew

Originally Posted by Texpat

Thanks to over $1+ Trillion dollars of American borrowed money.

Edited for accuracy.

Might want to edit the author for accuracy as well.

Originally Posted by sabang

Originally Posted by machangezi

all the major contracts for reconstruction of Iraq and its oil infrastructure going to American companies.

While the major major contracts have yet to be awarded, so far this is not the case. Even the French Total group has been awarded contracts, which pleasantly surprised me. And obviously BP & Shell have their snouts in the trough too.

I believe the present oil exploration and development contracts are only very short term, 2 years and now proposed to be cut to only one year. FOXNews.com - Iraq to Limit No-Bid Oil Contracts With Major Companies to One Year - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

Denationalization of the Iraqi oil industry would necessitate much longer term contracts to attract serious bidders willing to invest for the long term.

Inviting the big companies in on no-bid short term contracts is probably a pretty smart thing to do at the moment while the future direction of US policy re the occupation is up in the air due to pending domestic US elections. Iraq needs the big companies expertise to turn their latent oil resources into much needed cash when the US pulls out. The Iraqi government hasn't sold out the Iraqi people just yet. As I see it they are just buying time (and expertise) without committing to anything long term.

However the Kurds have been signing long term oil and gas development contracts which the Iraqi central government has declared illegal.
VOA News - US Investigating Iraqi Oil Contracts

I guess the Kurds game plan is that if they can encourage enough foreign investment in their region the USA will protect them and allow them to form a separate country.

Originally Posted by Texpat

Originally Posted by bkkandrew

Originally Posted by Texpat

Thanks to over $1+ Trillion dollars of American borrowed money.

Edited for accuracy.

Might want to edit the author for accuracy as well.

Is he a member of the board? If not, it might be a bit tricky...

Its all right Tex, I do accept that you didn't acutally author the original article.

"Great deeds are usually wrought at great risk." Herodotus

Take note those who think pandering and appeasing terrorists are sound tactics.

History will shine on the USA for this one.

^That won't happen. The USA is a "can do" operation.
The rest of the world will be eating KFC and plagiarizing american soap operas before they know it.

Achmed, please pass the cole slaw and a plump juicy breast!

Praise be to Allah for this extra crispy thigh.

US IRAQ agree to troop withdrawal by 2011

Reuters
25 Aug 2008

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Prime Nuri al-Maliki said on Monday that an agreement had been reached in negotiations on a security pact with the United States to end any foreign military presence in Iraq by the end of 2011.

"There is an agreement actually reached, reached between the two parties on a fixed date which is the end of 2011 to end any foreign presence on Iraqi soil," Maliki said in a speech to tribal leaders in the Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone.

"Yes, there is major progress on the issue of the negotiations on the security deal," Maliki said.

The Iraqi government has said it is proposing U.S. troops end patrols of Iraqi towns and villages by the middle of next year and U.S. combat troops leave Iraq by 2011.
But Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a visit to Baghdad last week that no final agreement had been reached. The Bush administration has sought to steer clear of fixed timetables in negotiating the agreement.

Iraq PM says U.S. agrees to withdraw troops by 2011 | Reuters

***

My prediction of Home by Christmas was a bit off, but 2011 is workable. I can think of 100,000 troops that won't object. Now we see if the Iraqis can keep it together. I'm hoping they can.

^The White House have just denied this agreement.

US, Iraq dispute troop withdrawal deadline