Iraq Government Showing Its Strength And Independence

In this photo released by the Iraq Prime Minister's Office, Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, center, attends a tribal conference in the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Monday no security agreement with the United States could be reached unless it included a 'specific deadline' for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. (AP Photo/Iraq Prime Minister's Office)

Iraqi Leader Insists On Deadline For
Troop Pullout -- Yahoo News/AP

BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki dug in his heels Monday on the future of the U.S. military in Iraq, insisting that all foreign soldiers leave the country by a specific date in 2011 and rejecting legal immunity for American troops.

Despite the tough words, al-Maliki's aides insisted a compromise could be found on the two main stumbling blocks to an accord governing the U.S. military presence in Iraq after a United Nations mandate expires at the end of the year.

Last week, U.S. and Iraqi officials said the two sides agreed tentatively to a schedule that includes a broad pullout of combat troops by the end of 2011 with the possibility that a residual U.S. force might stay behind to continue training and advising Iraqi security services.

But al-Maliki's remarks indicated his government was not satisfied with that arrangement and wants all foreign troops gone by the end of 2011.

Read more ....

More News On Iraq

Iraq, U.S. clash over timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal -- McClatchy
Iraq, US agree no foreign troops after 2011: PM -- Yahoo News/AFP
Iraq says U.S. agrees to pull troops by 2011 -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Iraq says deal reached on a U.S. pullout in 2011 -- International Herald Tribune
Maliki confirms deadline for US pull-out -- Financial Times
US and Iraqi negotiators agree text on troop withdrawal -- Guardian

My Comment: Officially .... U.S. combat troops are out by 2011. But the Iraqi air bases will be filled with U.S. Air Force personnel, U.S equipment, U.S. planes, U.S. helicopters, U.S. predators, and support staff that will number in the tens of thousands.

Yup .... U.S. soldiers are leaving .... NOT!!!!

The fact of the matter is that because of Iraq's strategic but weakened position in the world, U.S. forces are going to be based in Iraq for a very long time.