Iraq, U.S. locked in dispute over military handover

[RamboLiberal]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060903/ts_nm/iraq_dc_32

Talks between the United States and Iraq over the transfer of operational command of Iraq's armed forces were deadlocked on Sunday, with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki demanding more independence from the U.S. military.

A day after the dispute forced an embarrassing delay of a signing ceremony in Baghdad, an Iraqi Defense Ministry source said disagreements remained over the wording of a document that outlines the new relationship between U.S.-led occupying forces and Iraq's new military.

"There are some disputes between the two parties. We have our own point of view and they have theirs. We want thorough control and want the freedom to make decisions independently," the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Saturday's ceremony to transfer control of Iraq's army from U.S. commander General George Casey to the Iraqi Defense Ministry had been hailed by U.S. officials as a big step towards Iraq taking responsibility for security.

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. It's not what they want, it's what Bushco wants. Period.

Any questions?

[rodeodance]

2. Casy and other Generals have a huge stake here: They do not want to

go down as losers (like in vietman).

[druidity33]

14. too late... nt

[acmejack]

3. He Has decided that they should be sovereign.

You know like have sovereignty, be sovereign in their affairs , uh, er a sovereign nation that is he will continue to be the sovereign of Iraq, hehe.

[struggle4progress]

9. Exactly.

[sofa king]

15. Oh, I remember the day he said that.

That was the day I knew my tribal pals were screwed nine ways to Sunday. "This guy knows sovereignty in the exact same way he knows about 'subliminable' messages--not at all," I told a client over the phone.

And then he went on to prove it.

[tabasco]

22. Your tribal pals laughed their asses off to Bush's face!

I wish I had the honor of being their pals too.

We have a moron for a President.

This is an indictment of our entire society and system of government.

[ConcernedCanuk]

4. Does Iraq even have an Air Force? - I've never heard of one

.
.
.

During the invasion, I don't remember any reports of Iraqi planes in the air.

So how can Iraq be capable of defending itself without an Air Force?

Oh,

right. . . .

THe USA is building over a dozen bases in Iraq to "defend" them

From everyone except the USA's korprate swine

[sandnsea]

8. They used to

IIRC, they sent their planes to Iran during GW1. It seems like they wanted them back at some point and Iran wouldn't give them back. I'm pretty sure some of Clinton's bombings were directed at the Iraqi air force too. And no I don't mean the little balsa wood "drone"; real airplanes, with pilots and everything. :)

[Igel]

20. They had some MiGs.

In addition to the ones in Iran.

The US found some of them partially disassembled and buried beside major highways. Safer--and no less useful--there than at airbases or in the air.

[acmavm]

5. They can't even agree on fake 'sovereignty'. What happens if they

ever want the real deal?

[grytpype]

6. This sounds like a fairly big story to me.

I don't suppose the MSM is covering it at all.

All the media covers is the bad news about Iraq. They never cover the really, really, really bad news.

[TexasLawyer]

7. C'mon Maliki

What kind of puppet ARE you??!!!?

:sarcasm:

[rodeodance]

10. just hand over authority and get OUT>

[gratuitous]

18. Can't

Because that would plunge Iraq into an even more hellish version of the civil war that's already happening; the blame attached to the Bush administration would be undeniable; and the perception would be that we lost. While the corrupt Bush administration doesn't give a shit about the first consequence, the next two are to be avoided at all costs. As long as there's a colorable (if insane) argument to be made that Bush didn't fail miserably, they'd leave Iraq in a New York minute. But right now, too many people are paying attention, and the blame for failure would be clear. Better to stumble and stagger along until January 21, 2009, then leave the mess for the next fellow. When it finally falls completely apart, then blame the successor.

Republican Playbook at 23.

[rodeodance]

19. yes, you are right. my comment was more like wishful thinking.

[rodeodance]

11. it says negiotations may drag on.

A U.S. military spokesman said the dispute centered over the document's wording and played down major disagreements between the two sides, adding that he expected it would be signed soon.

"It's not a matter of major substance, but they're not happy with the wording of the document," Lieutenant Colonel Barry Johnson told Reuters late on Saturday.

"It is embarrassing, but it was decided it was better not to sign the document," he said.

But in a sign that negotiations could drag on, Mohammed al-Askari, spokesman for Iraq's Defense Ministry, said the government would take its time until an agreement was reached.

"We need more time regarding these discussions. There are some articles that need more discussions with the Americans. We don't want to be rushed into making these decisions. Our points of view are not identical," he said.

[rodeodance]

12. cnn still calls it a debate: the linking of SH with war on terror

......The Bush administration has consistently linked the Afghan and Iraq conflicts as part of an overall war on terror -- a much-debated idea since many critics of the Bush administration say the Hussein regime was never involved in sponsoring the al Qaeda terror network.

[GeorgeGist]

13. Bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbut...

Bush said "When the Iraqis stand up, We'll stand down". :nopity:

[Joanne98]

16. BUSHCO will never let go of The Chimperor's Kingdom.

This will be a long fight.

[MarinCoUSA]

17. We've come so far for oil, soil and empire. Give it away to Arab ragheads$

As if!

[tabasco]

21. LMAO. Another meaningless "ceremony" hailed as a "big step forward."

These criminals insult our intelligence again with their stupid and vile propaganda.

I thought waving the purple fingers was "mission accomplished" or "turned the corner" or "look how happy the Iraqis are to be free!"

We are in a quagmire launched purely for corporate purposes. Every one of our troops killed in Iraq is a wasted life. The republicans want it to go on forever. There is no objective and that is a mission that will never be accomplished.

[Dems Will Win]

23. DRAFT ALERT COMING SOON!!!!

[VegasWolf]

24. I think Bush is confused as to the meaning of sovereignty! nt