US rejects Putin's Iraq timetable call

[NNN0LHI]

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/AA71B2A0-D48F-4242-BAA8-74A59A31EB28.htm

The United States has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's call to set a timetable for pulling its troops out of Iraq and withheld comment on his proposal for an international conference.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack on Thursday echoed President George Bush's refusal to lay out a calendar for withdrawing the 138,000 American troops battling an uprising 28 months after the removal of Saddam Hussein.

"As Iraqis stand up their capabilities, we and the multinational forces will be able to stand down," McCormack stated.

"We have a robust training programme for Iraqi police and security forces that's progressing under the leadership of General {David} Petraeus working very closely with the Iraqis."

[arcane1]

1. guess what, Sean McCormack?

Iraq had security and police BEFORE WE INVADED!!!!

how many weapons slipped across the border when Saddam was in charge, and the country was decimated from years of bombings and sanctions?

[sabra]

2. Washington shrugs off Putin's call for Iraq pullout timetable

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/washington-shrugs-off-putins-call-for-iraq-pullout-timetable/2005/08/19/1124435141727.html?oneclick=true

Washington shrugs off Putin's call for Iraq pullout timetable
August 20, 2005

Sochi, Russia: President Vladimir Putin of Russia has called for an international conference on Iraq by the end of the year and a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops, saying many Iraqis considered them occupying forces.

"We consider that holding an international conference this year would give a new impulse to the normalisation of the situation" in Iraq, Mr Putin said on Thursday following talks with King Abdullah of Jordan.

"We deem it necessary to work out a schedule for the staged withdrawal of foreign troops," he said. "Many Iraqis perceive these forces as occupying forces, and this is a reality that should be taken into account."

....

His latest proposals were greeted no more warmly on Thursday. The State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, echoed President George Bush's refusal to lay out a calendar for withdrawing the 138,000 US troops battling an insurgency 28 months after the removal of Saddam Hussein.

[Roland99]

3. Putin's just shootin' (into the wind)

[SpiralHawk]

4. "Who cares what you think." - George AWOL Bush

"I am very busy doing the Hard Work of my vacation. So everyone -- and that means you Cindy Sheehan and all your grieving mother friends -- just bugger off." - Bush

[bullimiami]

5. didnt bush see that coming when he looked into pooty poots soul?

hmm. go figure.