Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Iraqi and US officials begin discussing pullout of foreign troops

BRUSSELS (AP)-[off the wire, no link]-Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Tuesday a withdrawal of some foreign troops in the country early next year would be "understandable" as Iraq's own military become more able to defend the country.

"If there would be some withdrawal early 2006, I think that would be understandable," he told reporters after talks at North Atlantic Treaty Organization headquarters. "The capacity of our forces would be better on the ground, better trained, better equipped."

U.S. Lt. Gen. John R. Vines, commander of the Multinational Corps in Iraq, suggested in Washington Tuesday that there could be significant reductions in the force from around March.
06-21-05 1305EDT


Well there you go you crybaby liberals: the beginnings of a timetable for withdrawal. Now will you all please stop your whining and filibustering so we can get some work done in this country.

That seems like a fair starting time. And it doesn't even hint at a full withdrawal which won't happen for several years, possibly even decades. I wouldn't be surprised to see a permanent US base set up in Iraq because like I said earlier we're in this for the long haul.