Iraqis want a timetable for US withdrawal

Iraq insists on withdrawal timetable

Iraqi security adviser says country will insist on
timetable for withdrawal of American troops

SALLY BUZBEE
AP News
Jul 08, 2008 09:34 EST

Iraq's national security adviser said Tuesday his country
will not accept any security deal with the United States unless it contains
specific dates for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces.

The comments by Mouwaffak al-Rubaie were the strongest yet by an Iraqi
official about the deal now under negotiation with U.S. officials. They came a
day after Iraq's prime minister first said publicly that he expects the pending
troop deal with the United States to have some type of timetable for
withdrawal.

Heh. I'd say this throws a monkey wrench into Republican talking points. Timetables may be for pinko commie sissy Democrats, but they are also for the democratically elected Iraqi government, apparently.

I could be mistaken, but I believe majorities of Iraqi citizens have long desired a timetable for the withdrawal of US forces from their country, if not an immediate pullout. This is simply the result of Iraqi politicians being pressured by their constituents to do something about it. It's in situations like these that we more clearly see the political clout of the Iraqi government vis a vis the US military. The US cannot be seen as disregarding the will of the Iraqis, since that would call into question the motives behind the entire enterprise. But just how much is the US prepared to put up with? Suppose Maliki enters into some treaty with Iran that runs directly contrary to US interests? How would Bush react to that?