Perhaps the Iraqi government is not in total agreement with the Bush plan for 20,000-plus troops?

Question

IInternational Herald Tribune/Africa/Middle East
January 10,2007

BAGHDAD: As President George W. Bush challenges public opinion at home by committing more soldiers to Iraq, he is confronted an Iraqi government that does not really want them.

The Shiite-led government here has not opposed more troops. Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki said as much in a videoconference with Bush on Saturday. But the government is skeptical of American intentions and is determined to push back the reach of Washington's authority to run the war the way it wants:
Haidar al-Abadi, a member of Parliament who is a close associate of Maliki's, said: "The government believes there is no need for extra troops from the American side. The existing troops can do the job."

Abadi and other Shiites spoke Wednesday of creating a new office — of the commander in chief — where Iraq's military commanders would meet and report directly to Maliki, cutting out the Defense Ministry, for example, which is beholden to the United States.
"Iraqi commanders will be in charge of all operations," Abadi said.
The central issue in the new plan is operation control. Iraqis insist that they be given full control of all operations within Baghdad, a control that U.S. commanders — concerned that Iraqi forces will serve as a tool on one side of a civil war — have been reluctant to hand over.

There is no contradiction. The information was taken directly from the news source. I wrote nothing personally. I imagine the newspaper follows the same kind of tactics are are used in the United States in their news items. "Headline" and then explain. Still, the fact remains that the Iraqis do NOT want us there (from very reliable sources) And can you blame them.They kill each other. And there is other madness, because while they are at it, they are killing our soldiers. Still they can take care of their own problems. If I were in the same situation I'd rather be killed by my OWN people than to be killed by some foreigner hellbent on stealing my land and natural resources.

Answer 1

The Iraqi people want the US there for at least another year. They are asking for our help, why don't you understand this?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkAh_z1gqkPXBf37U_L7larsy6IX?qid=20070111105748AA8D9aL

Answer 2

The Shiitis want to kill the Sunnis as payback for 30-years of oppression and hundreds of thousands of deaths.

The Sunnis want war too rather than accept their new role as the oppressed minority!

(I know: It is not fair to generalized entire groups as being one way. There are always decent peacefully people of all persuasions. But as often is the case: the extremes define the group.)


Without strong central leadership, CIVIL WAR was inevitable. I find it sadly amusing that that this comes as any surprise to anyone!!!!!

The thing that ends CIVIL WAR before it ever can start is to make the society so prosperous that they are all too busy making money and living well to be bothered with the old hates, jealousies, and vendettas. That's kind of why the Kurds have pretty much been sitting it out on the sidelines during all the violence.

Unfortunately, rather than building that kind of grass roots prosperity, the majority of our development funds have been poured down a corporate Halliburton, et al. rat hole, and the window of opportunity of success, if there ever was one, is far smaller and farther away now than ever.

As far as the Iraqi government: Can anyone in it be truly considered a noble and far thinking statesmen thinking of their and their countries long term legacy, or are they just small and petty secular politicians playing to their bases of support! To that end, isn't any American involvement in Iraq today just getting in the way of a whole horde of personal and petty agendas.

Answer 3

The Iraqi Government presented Bush with a plan to withdraw most of our troops, leaving only enough to secure the Capitol. From all the news I've read it seems the Iraqi people want us out also. My question is why was this civil war not anticipated and a plan to squelch it already in place before we "liberated" Iraq? I have an idea that Bush does not ever want us to leave the region. I think he wants us to expand our military efforts to include Syria and Iran. If we manage to get through the next two years without Bush, the Israeli Government or the Madman in Iran starting WW3 we will be lucky.

Answer 4

No one needs more Us troops in Iraq,the Iraqi can manage their country by themselves without the American intervene .. Us is not there for helping people,rebuild the country,spreading democracy and peace...in contrary,over Million Iraqi killed since they entered..,they divided the country which cause a civil war between the Shiite and Sunni Muslims .
Even if Malki and the other Iraqi governments asked for the Us help...that actually quz they re allies to Bush administration,not for the Iraqis sake but to remain their seats and authority.

Answer 5

The exiled Shiites scammed America into the Iraq war for vengeful and pay-back tactics against all Sunnis. If that's not so, then Al-Maliki won't be playing so many games with the ill-advised Bush to bankrupt America and promote so many American deaths in Iraq. The way they handled Saddam's hanging goes to show that this new Iraqi Government is flawed of fair justice or favor true Democracy. What Bush and his ill advisors are doing is to have America trust an ibcompetent and self-centered government who may come to backfire on Americans later! Al-Maliki supports the Al-Sadrs who have, time and time again, repeated their hate for Americans. Bush has proven himself to be an incompetent and flawed Commander-in-Chief... and a nutcase in his willingness to accept wrong advices to sink America deeper and deeper into hell-holes!

Answer 6

That is what the “media” tells you. I'm in Iraq, and have been for the past 14 months, interacting with the Iraqi government officials, military, and civilians everyday. As far as the media stating, "The Iraqi government does not want us here", that is their typical way of misleading you and the rest of the world. There are in fact “some” members of the Iraqi government and the Council of Government (much like our Congress) who do not want us here any longer, but they are a small percentage. The majority of the Iraqi government, Council, and military do in fact want us to remain here until there is stability. The same goes for the majority of the Iraqi civilians who voted in overwhelming numbers for a democratic government and a free country.

It is like when all these media types and Democrats constantly declare that “the Americans are against the war and want us out of Iraq”. That is not factual. A large percentage of Americans feel that way, but a very large number of Americans believe we should remain in Iraq until there is some stability. Many of us are willing to give Bush’s new plan a chance. At least for a short period longer. The matter can be reevaluated six months from now and then discussed. But, to abandon Iraq right now would be irresponsible for us as a country.

Don’t forget, Congress overwhelmingly voted to invade Iraq under the belief Saddam had Weapons of Mass Destruction. But it was “also” because of his genocide and crimes against humanity. Despite what many like to say, Saddam had and was further developing WMD the same as Iran. Unfortunately, he had several months to dispose of everything knowing we were coming.

The bottom line is that America’s government approved the invasion and we can not simply abandon Iraq. It would be irresponsible. For those who have no actual experience in foreign affairs and terrorism, be advised that there is a very large number of Islamic terrorists out there who want to annihilate America and any other non-Muslim country. The war in Iraq is “now” part of the war against terrorism.

Answer 7

I think the question comes down to this, Are the Iraqis more secure with US troops there. Right now, certainly. But as the push to bring the troops back home has started, The President needs more troops for flexibility, and for specific missions. This is a conflict. The Iraqis are not capable of providing adequate security at this time. This is changing every day as Iraqis step up to the plate to do their own security. I think that there is cooperation in this, and that I think that not much will change until the Iraqis have more stake in what they are fighting for. I think that this will change as time goes on. regardless.

Answer 8

I think if the US left, then Iraqis, one way or another, would work out their own problems.

I think the UN, instead of being whittled away to being useless unempowered fools, should have been in charge of this whole thing, but Bush ignored them and did as he would.

Had he not cut off their balls, they would still be respected and perhaps have some clout in playing a role at putting an end to this...and take over somehow...but it's too late for that.

Iraq will be more than happy at having American soldiers there for as long as they want to continue to be butchered. There will never be an end to insurgents...where one goes down there are probably another dozen martyrs born. So the sooner you all get out the better for your own sake.

Answer 9

Keep a historical perspective on this. Iraq is about 60% Shiite, 20% Sunni, and 20% Kurdish. Now that we removed Saddam, a Sunni, from power, the Shiites may have their own agenda of retaliation in mind. We need to ensure a balance of power as long as we want to preserve Iraq as one soverienty.

And on that point, maybe the best thing we can do for peace there is to restore the pre-Ottoman empire borders where the Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis each had their own provinces! The three different cultures were merged into one country for ease of control by the British after WW1.

Answer 10

I'm in Iraq right now...if the Iraqi government would get off their behinds and start doing their job, then Bush wouldn't have to send in the extra troops. By the way, don't believe everything the news media prints or tells you. They tell you exactly what they want you to hear.....not necessarily the truth. I've seen this myself on more than one occasion.

Answer 11

It is easier to have someone else do the job for you, isn't it? Personally, I can't speak for the Iraqi leader, but I understand, before Bush told him, F no, you can't give special treatment to one side over the other, and forgive their bad deeds, in order to make "peace", (which Nuri Kamal was doing), he WAS indeed taking advantage of America. It does seem to me to be the Arab way. But they're just going to have to learn, and RIGHT quick, America don't take no crap! He, and his country best abide by the rules of Freedom for all, as they begged us to help them achieve, or else we're going to leave then HIGH, and DRY!
The troops can and WILL do the job! They are American's born and bred!