[Cid_Yama]

Al-Maliki WAS the puppet of the Bush Administration until he saw the writing on the wall. If he conceded to US demands for total control and freedom of action in Iraq, and a permanent presence in 60 bases across Iraq, he would have lost TOTAL support from the Iraqi people and become just a figurehead, a virtual prisoner in the Green Zone for fear of asassination.

The key thing to take from this is that the Iraqi people are demanding the US leave and the Bush Administration is refusing to go.

[3aidlillahi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('biofuel13', 'F')inally Iraqi's are showing some balls

[RedStateGreen]

Or this could be a collusion between Maliki and the US. We start pulling out, everything goes to hell (as planned) and all of a sudden we're being begged to return.

And of course we HAVE to go in because they ASKED us to be there!

The US people have a very short memory. Six months later people could be protesting for us to send troops to help the poor Iraqis who have been abandoned by the mean, cruel US government.

[joelcolorado]

The U.N. couldnt kick an ant out of a picnic basket. Good grief.
Look at who pays the bills for the U.N. and you can see how it really is. I hope they DO take over and about time the rest of the world takes responsibility for helping Iraq get back on its feet.

[Cid_Yama]

China and Russia, especially if working together under a UN mandate, could easily boot the US out.

[vetusfirma]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', 'C')hina and Russia, especially if working together under a UN mandate, could easily boot the US out.

[Cid_Yama]

You must be some kid that flunked out of History.

This from 9/29/07:

<b>China 'impenetrable' to USAF</b>

China is modernizing its military and its air defenses are now nearly impenetrable to all but the newest of American fighters, the senior U.S. military official in Japan said.

"Our planes are much older than the planes they would be matched against. For the first time in history, we are seeing another nation, in this case China, with newer fighters than we have. We know that they continue to invest at a level that is unprecedented. We need to be watchful of Chinese military capabilities."

link

and Russia has just spent the last year in the biggest military refit in history.

Russia is a major exporter of oil, did you forget that?

[btu2012]

Vetus,

I've never yet seen any post by your that makes any sense. Are you mentally disadvantaged or something ?

[Cid_Yama]

We are now seeing an entire generation of young adults in the United States totally raised on lies.

Almost like the generation that grew up in the 1930's in Germany.

The United States is not the lone superpower able to do whatever it wants in the world, that the Bush Administration seemed to think it was.

A generation of misinformed neocon cheerleaders won't help in the real world.(But would probably make excellent cannon fodder. Look at the stand they made in Germany. They fought to the last child.)

[btu2012]

Cid,

People like Vetus scare me. He hasn't yet shown the slightest ability to think for himself.

[joelcolorado]

My wife is a doctor and had CME class on DVD we listened to on our trip. It claims that 80% of the Soviet Army is HIV positive.

[Cid_Yama]

The first of these objectives involves the "status of forces agreement" that the Bush administration is feverishly trying to ram down the throats of the Iraqi government. Under this agreement, Iraq would agree to let U.S. troops occupy 58 or more permanent bases, control Iraqi airspace, have the right to arrest Iraqis at will, allow the U.S. to determine if a hostile act from another country is aggression against Iraq and, thereby, allow the U.S. to conduct military strikes against Iran or any other country without the permission of the Iraqi government; it would also grant immunity from Iraqi law to U.S. troops and contractors. In short, the U.S. would become a permanent occupying presence that would, in effect, conduct the total affairs of the Iraqi people with no constraints of any kind.

This agreement is being hotly pursued as a critical, high-priority need and Bush negotiators in Iraq are applying extreme pressure on the Prime Minister Nouri al-maliki. Bush & Co. say they need no treaty approved by Congress, they need no involvement of any kind by Congress and that they are solely responsible for making this agreement that would perpetuate the American occupation of Iraq indefinitely. This also means that the entire rich petroleum reserves of Iraq would fall under the complete control of the United States, and our current national emergency relating to high costs and critical oil supply problems would magically disappear. I wonder how much longer it will take for the majority of Americans to finally come to the conclusion that the decision to attack Iraq was never about anything else except to gain control of its oil?

So far al-Maliki and key members of the Iraqi parliament have voiced strong opposition to this agreement that would put their country under total, complete domination by our occupying forces. However, the pressure from the Bush/Cheney war machine is very intense and, if they can find some way to pull off this coup, then the nation of Iraq will, for all practical purposes, cease to exist. Iraq would, in effect, then become a colony or some kind of protectorate.

link

[Peleg]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7452853.stm

Is it just me or does Maliki look like a fellow there who knows he made a deal with the devil and is now wishing he had considered better the cost?

[errorist]

Elections!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_gove ... ions,_2008

[Keith_McClary]

I remember a big deal being made of Iraq's "democratic" constitution.

Now we're told that the premier of Iraq can grant dictatorial powers to the US occupiers. Is there a clause in the "democratic" constitution that allows this?

Seems like an Iraqi version of Neoconizm.

[joelcolorado]

I love to hear the left and other democratic friends of mine yelling about getting out of Iraq then complaining bout the cost of gas.

The mullahs there and in Iran want the USA to fail. Once we leave, they will shut off the oil supply. Then we have only two choices, GO BACK in there and get the oil or fail.

You watch, if we pull out, gas will go to $10 or more and THEN everyone will scream bloody murder. Ole Barack wont look so good then will he. ?

He is saying now that he is changing his policay and may NOT pull out of Iraq. I think that is so funny. Typical politician.

[Dreamtwister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('joelcolorado', 'I') love to hear the left and other democratic friends of mine yelling about getting out of Iraq then complaining bout the cost of gas.

[joelcolorado]

I work for a union so ALL my buddies are democrats. I remember we got a contract once and it wnt to Pres Clinton. THEy said GOOD we are saved. He sent it to a board he chose from the republicans. Had them do his dirty work. So I lost faith in the dems being for the working man. NO ONE IS>

The mullahs dont care bout bills to pay. The saudis are diff tho. THey want the money. HOWEVER the religious nuts would let their own ppl starve to get us to go down.

AND I know what you mean about gunbarrel diplomacy. Have been around the world enforcing that myself so understand. We were hungry in cambodia and we just took what we needed with a gun. I know.

BUT, do you think the people here, no matter their politics will sit by and let someone else hold us hostage over oil. I dont care. ..i can make it without oil and gas myself. I dont care how high it gets I can afford it or go without.

But I do knowppl are fickle. Hate bush but wont put up with much higher prices. Obama said the price is high but ONLY because it came so fast. Said its not too high really.

I dont trust any of them so dont get your feathers ruffled.

[Taghayee]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('joelcolorado', '
')The mullahs dont care bout bills to pay. The saudis are diff tho. THey want the money. HOWEVER the religious nuts would let their own ppl starve to get us to go down.

[Taghayee]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('joelcolorado', '
')The mullahs there and in Iran want the USA to fail..