Say it ain't So!

Nouri al-Maliki yesterday requested a formal timetable from the US for the withdrawal of all US forces from Iraq.

A thought or two:

First, it shows that those who have said the fundamental question of whether we stay or go, is the Iraqi's to decide how to answer.

Second, is al-Maliki 'pro-surrender', or is he just in favor of telling the terrorists how long to wait?

Third, a permanent presence has always been the goal of this administration, and al-Maliki just let the neo-cons know their ambitions of using Iraq as a 'big stick' launching point, probably just got tossed out by the same Shiaa which the left has been saying for years does not want us to stay.

An al-Maliki spokesperson (member of their parliament) testified before Congress two weeks ago that 'probably more than 70 percent' of Iraqis want the US to leave, virtually immediately. I find it difficult, at best, to understand how the neo-cons and John McCain (not to mention Norm Coleman), feel threatened/angry/self-righteous about any suggestion we aren't really helping in the inter-religious conflict in Iraq, that our presence is neither necessary or wanted long-term, and that our withdrawal is best both for Iraq, and for US troops (long-term). They talk (sometimes) about reducing troop levels, but they just about never talk about removal of forces. al-Maliki and others have made it plain, our interest in a 'Status of Forces' agreement - is something they don't support, for exactly the reasons I asked a certain Senator about -- namely, our insistence on impunity from control or consequences.

I wonder what the right thinks sometimes, I really do - these people (the Iraqis) are bright, independent, and proud. They don't want foreign occupiers, they CERTAINLY don't want people who may rob them of their oil assets, and THEY want to determine their future, without the presence of troops they cannot control, cannot stop, and cannot bring to justice. No wonder they want us gone.