Iraqis to Panetta: We like you guys after all
The new Secretary of Defense says that the Iraqis have already agreed that US troops should stay there beyond 2011 reports Stars & Stripes;
Six weeks after Panetta became the latest U.S. leader to press Iraq on a formal request, the Pentagon is moving forward, he said, because there is unanimous consent among key Iraqi leaders to address U.S. demands. Those demands include that Iraqis begin negotiating internally what type of U.S. training force they would like, begin a process to select a defense minister, craft a new Status of Forces Agreement and increase operations against Iranian-backed militants.
I guess Code Pink and the Iraq Veterans Against the War won’t be helping the Obama campaign next year. And this kind of makes Dahlia Wasfi’s message empty, too. Exit question to Ward Reilly…is it still an occupation when the host country asks you to extend your presence in their nation?
Thanks to Jeff Schogol for the link.
Category: Antiwar crowd, Code Pink, Iraq Veterans Against the War
Perhaps a hard copy should be rolled up and applied to Dahlia Wasfi’s head – repeatedly.
“begin a process to select a defense minister, craft a new Status of Forces Agreement and increase operations against Iranian-backed militants.”- This is the most important, the framework for how, when, and where our troops operate in Iraq. The last S.O.F. agreement hamstrung us, making it impossible for us to help assist when dealing with Iranian backed entities.
I bet it will be something between 20-25,000 at least, even if they are stuck on FOBs or AirHubbs or whatever they call these installations next. A Division HQ, 3-4 brigades, USAF air assets, SOF troops, and advisors. Maybe something closer to 30,000.
Wonder whether we will still get to troop around the Perfume Palace?
Did the Iraqis REALLY say that, or is Panetta making-believe?