Timetables and Such
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.
It’s good to be reminded that politics don’t happen in a vacuum. President Bush has been very vocal in his opposition to withdrawal dates and time tables. McCain, while less vocal, has also intimated that he doesn’t want to set any dates or timetables, but rather wants to wait till everything’s taken care of, then look at withdrawal plans.
From the Iraqi perspective it must look more like a occupation than a help. Remember, these are democratically elected representatives. If their people don’t like what they do they won’t get elected next year. Letting a foreign power talk loudly about never leaving your country, and bickering over when or if timetables should be established probably doesn’t sit well with those in charge. Now instead of backing down and letting the Americans dictate their own military role, the Iraqis have stepped in and are making their desires known. Desires that seem to be more in step with Obama’s concept of slow withdrawal than McCain’s concept of stay till sometime in the future.
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