(Iraq PM) Maliki says US era of Iraq dominance is over

[sabra]

Source: AFP

BAGHDAD - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Tuesday that the era of US dominance was over, in a broadside to Washington almost six years after the invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.

The Shiite premier, boosted by the strong showing by his allies in provincial elections, said Iraq was now taking charge of its own destiny and was making good progress toward rebuilding the war-torn country.

His remarks were a pointed rebuke to US Vice President Joe Biden, who last week said Washington would have to be “more aggressive” in pushing Baghdad toward faster political reform.

“The time for putting pressure on Iraq is over,” Maliki told reporters, asked about Biden’s comments.

“The Iraqi government knows what are its responsibilities. We are carrying out reform and we are in the last step of the reconciliation.”

Read more: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2009/February/middleeast_February160.xml§ion=middleeast

[Submariner]

1. Sounds good to me

Let's pull every last military person out of Iraq, and evacuate that Baghdad embassy also. The Bush era is over.

[JFKfanforever]

2. Someone please tell this to Cheney and his Halliburton pals...

It will take generations for the Iraquis to rebuild the
destruction of their country engineered by Bush and his
buddies.

[bdamomma]

3. good now we can leave. and leave your people alone.

[IndianaGreen]

4. 4,000 GIs died to put a pro-Iranian Shia government in power in Iraq

Mission accomplished!

:puke:

In the same vein, the US is in no position to continue to protect Israel from facing the consequences of her crimes.

Adios, Middle East!

[AndyA]

5. Fine, pull the troops and send Maliki a bill for our services.

Something in the nature of what? Oh, about $600 billion perhaps?

Does anyone know for certain how much we've spent in Iraq?

[Winterblues]

9. Yep we certainly "serviced" Iraq didn't we?

:crazy:

[bird gerhl]

11. Whatever the cost, Iraq doesn't owe USA a penny.

If anything, USA should pay reparations to Iraq. Sooner rather than later.

[Tempest]

6. Makiki's government would collapse if the U.S. left

Not because of an insurgency or al-Qaeda.

But from the weight of its own corruption.

[Johnyawl]

7. the corruption rampant in foreign goverments is not our problem to solve

[Tempest]

8. I made no such claim

If that is what you are insinuating.

[timtom]

10. "Dominance", indeed.

I believe the appropriate word would be "rape"!