Britain and US plan for quick exit from Iraq

President Bush and Tony Blair are drawing up plans to speed the pullout of coalition forces from Iraq by giving it full control of its own security as soon as possible, the UK TIMES is splashing in Monday runs... Developing...

http://www.drudgereport.com/

Its from Drudge, so take it for what its worth....

(EDITED TO ADD ARTICLE)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1110250,00.html

Britain and US plan for quick exit from Iraq
By Philip Webster, Political Editor

'Gear change' on troops pullout



TONY BLAIR and President Bush are drawing up plans to speed the pullout of coalition forces from Iraq by giving it full control of its own security as soon as possible.
In an urgent attempt to show that there is an “exit strategy”, America, Britain and other coalition countries will help Iraq to create an army, police force, civil defence corps, intelligence services and border police force.

Yesterday’s briefing from British government sources marked a clear of shift of emphasis. For months, officials in London and Washington have talked about forces staying in Iraq “for as long as it takes” with 2006-07 seen as a real prospect. Now there is much more focus on the goal of leaving. The aim is reach a position where British and American forces can get out as soon as it is safe to, and to show the Iraqis and the increasingly anxious British and American publics that there is an endgame in sight, officials told The Times last night.

The move comes amid increasing speculation that the Prime Minister might leave office before the next election and comes after demands from politicians in both countries for an “exit strategy”.



Mr Blair’s position has become so uncertain that senior ministers led by Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, publicly rallied support for him yesterday and Gordon Brown demanded discipline from the Labour Party at all levels.

The new strategy, discussed by senior officials in Washington and London over the weekend, came as both countries accepted that Iraq would be given full sovereignty on July 1. In what was being portrayed as an example of Mr Blair’s quiet influence on Mr Bush, suggestions from Washington of only partial sovereignty have been dropped.
<snip>

it's called a "retreat". The costs have become too high, all of them political.

calls it "cuttin and runnin". While my hope is that we stop this unwinnable war, I give the regime NO credit, they started it and they created this horrible mess. I hope everyone can see through their desperation if this is true.

We came, we killed, we left the country in shambles.
Sabriel

They are all talking out of both sides of their arses these days.

I'll look for it in the Guardian

The US envoy in Iraq, Paul Bremer, hinted on Friday that America would pull out its forces if asked to do so by the new Iraqi government. This would offer the US an escape route if Washington lost the stomach for a continued fight.

But Mr Powell, in another interview yesterday, this time with ABC news, suggested America had no intention of pulling out in the near future.

He said "theoretically" the US would leave if asked but he did not expect that to be the case. "They know ... that there will be ... some considerable period of time before we can see conditions of security that can be placed totally into the hands of Iraqi security forces."
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1218516,00.html

Bush will have committed political suicide. It's over.

That would really anger the Republican base. It would be to Baby Bush what "no new taxes" was to the real President Bush. The neo-con computer peckers would go banannas.

It would be seen for what it was- waging a war for political reasons. That's a war crime.

Maybe the reason * insisted US forces be exempt from the ICC was because he knew, as CnC, he was also subject to its jurisdiction (if that's the case).

Just a thought, anyway.

I'm afraid of the fine print though.

PAPER: DRUDGE NEEDS TO GO TO JOURNALISM SCHOOL

WTF is with "PAPER:"? Does the paper have a name per chance? Is the UK TIMES known as the Times of London in the rest of the world?

Sheesh, and probably a completely BS story anyway.

The full name of the paper is just "The Times", nothing more. Since, in America, that could easily be confused with the New York Times (or maybe the LA Times), you have to qualify it somehow, so using 'UK' as an adjective is reasonable. It's more accurate than calling it the "Times of London" - the offices may be in London, but it does not report any London-specific news at all.

"Stay the Course" not too long ago??? Flip! Flop! I don't think he knows which way he's going anymore. :crazy:

Are they going to move everything back to Saudi Arabia? I don't think that would bode well either. Yup, they've managed to screw up their own grand plans. Yay!

And that name is bullshit.

Leaving Iraq would be to admit wrongdoing, an election year mishap of uncontrollable proportions. Even John Kerry, the richest senator in history and presumed Democratic candidate, doesn't condone pulling out. Even HE isn't standing up to the wrongness of the war. Won't happen. It's bullshit.

Maybe the media will begin to play the game of brainwashing everyone that the Iraqi's control security, but it won't really mean that it's happening on the ground.

Also, do you think Halliburton is ready to pull out? No, last I heard we're about to shell out another $50 billion for 'reconstruction' and security, a good portion of which will go to 'reconstruction'.

Leaving is worse than staying, for Bush. I seriously doubt this story is what it appears to be. Unlessa "quick" pullout means sometime in 2020.

dignity for our military. That is the difference.

I also have the feeling someone has laid the cards out on the table for Bush, that his career is finished as well as that of the rest of his administration..I expect a resignation, if that is the case...

Who will the next one be?

Hastert?

obviously you didn't check for replies to your posts, as I gave you proof that is b'chit

stop saying that unless you can back it up!

Who knows?
Who is the richest?

I keep seein' "ARVN" on the inside uv ma eyelids......

MotherFlopper!

never, the way things are going

If Bush pulls out, President Kerry won't have to deal with Iraq.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1110250,00.html

Britain and US plan for quick exit from Iraq
By Philip Webster, Political Editor

'Gear change' on troops pullout



TONY BLAIR and President Bush are drawing up plans to speed the pullout of coalition forces from Iraq by giving it full control of its own security as soon as possible.
In an urgent attempt to show that there is an “exit strategy”, America, Britain and other coalition countries will help Iraq to create an army, police force, civil defence corps, intelligence services and border police force.

Yesterday’s briefing from British government sources marked a clear of shift of emphasis. For months, officials in London and Washington have talked about forces staying in Iraq “for as long as it takes” with 2006-07 seen as a real prospect. Now there is much more focus on the goal of leaving. The aim is reach a position where British and American forces can get out as soon as it is safe to, and to show the Iraqis and the increasingly anxious British and American publics that there is an endgame in sight, officials told The Times last night.

The move comes amid increasing speculation that the Prime Minister might leave office before the next election and comes after demands from politicians in both countries for an “exit strategy”.



Mr Blair’s position has become so uncertain that senior ministers led by Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, publicly rallied support for him yesterday and Gordon Brown demanded discipline from the Labour Party at all levels.

The new strategy, discussed by senior officials in Washington and London over the weekend, came as both countries accepted that Iraq would be given full sovereignty on July 1. In what was being portrayed as an example of Mr Blair’s quiet influence on Mr Bush, suggestions from Washington of only partial sovereignty have been dropped.
<snip>

Nice work smirky!

I will believe it when I see it.

See this other thread at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x559714

"The U.S. government has told us that it needs to select some U.S. troops in South Korea and send them to Iraq to cope with the worsening situation in Iraq," said Kim Sook, head of the South Korean Foreign Ministry's North American Bureau.

"South Korea and the United States are discussing the matter" and working out details including the number of U.S. troops to be redeployed, Kim said.

(Slapping self upside the head.)

but I could see it happening, and succeeding. The media immediately begins stories of Iraqi children returning to school, bustling city markets, rebuilding infrastructure, and smiling Iraqi faces. Bush parachutes in to the Republican convention with a banner saying "Mission Accomplished..I brought them home safe". The Michael Jackson case, Scott Peterson case, and an increase in shark attacks along the coast will take precedent in the media. The American public forgets about Iraq, Bush is a hero..and nothing more to see but a paperless Diebold voting machine in November and Osama Been Forgotten served up on Halloween.

Deep Breath. I'm refuse to give up..however this administration seems to get all the breaks...UP UNTIL NOW!

Affirmation: I choose healthy, positive, uplifting thoughts! We WILL and ARE succeeding!

> Affirmation: I choose healthy, positive, uplifting thoughts! We WILL and ARE succeeding!

Part of why I've always thought a revolution would work better while the troops are in Iraq.

Sad, but true. Wonder how far off the mark I am?

Something creeps me out about these 20,000 private security (mercenaries) hired by the defense department. The privatization of our military has begun...and its scary.

for the last year! And haven't about 40% of the Iraqi police trainees quit?????


"In an urgent attempt to show that there is an “exit strategy”, America, Britain and other coalition countries will help Iraq to create an army, police force, civil defence corps, intelligence services and border police force."

Haven't they been trying to do this already???

from being blown to bits?

Mercs?

Private security contractors?

"Cutting and Running" so quickly? Good Heavens? It has only been over a year! Coming from Drudge, it's BS.

to look like the "old Bush" and Bush begins to look like Nader/Kucinich??

However, if Iraq splits into 3 separate countries....who guards the pipelines, oil facilities, ports, etc. etc. What does Iran do? Jordan?
etc. etc. etc.

Rashad Kahilidi thinks it's one unholy mess....an extremely dangerous situation if things go down the drain....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x559804

Oh, boy, what a great situation that will create....

What a can of worms!!!!!

and everything falls into place. Happy, secure Iraqis living in
peace and harmony, instant restoration of infrastructure, and look
at all the happy little Iraqi children safely studying in school.

Just like Afghanistan.

This effort, if true and if attempted, will meet the same fate. It would be laughable if it weren't for the thousands of people dying and the millions of others leading miserable lives. Is this the way to maintain our standard of living? I think and hope not. What a waste.

Even more disturbing is knowing that, regardless of who wins in November, this ruinous policy will continue--tweaked somewhat and maybe with a new, smiley face on it, but there's no critical mass in government yet to end the war.

This seems so much like Nixon pulling out of Vietnam. Vietnamization was what it was called. Now we are going to Iraqize the war in Iraq.

You can bet the pullout will be planned for sometime after the elections for each of them, and that if they win (perhaps even if they don't), there will be a change of plans, and no pullout.

leave Iraq, we will stage a "strategic repositioning" of most of our troops as "Iraqization" succeeds. Maybe if we leave Bush will get his photos of Iraqis throwing flowers at are feet as we march to the planes. Well, maybe he'll get pictures of Iraqis throwing something at the troops.

hey it's the freepers wet dream, just nuke the place. probably chimpy's dream too. Bush is a terrorist with the ultimate bomb.

to win the election, & all replies disagreed with me.

Bush & Co will do ANYTHING to win...watch, they will try to sell it as a huge success.

They will say they liberated the Iraqis & turned over the government to them. They will not care what happens after they leave.

I think I would have agreed with you. Shrub doesn't give a rat's patooty about the "brown-skinned" people of Eye-Rack. I don't think he'll have a problem with leaving if Rove and his wife, uh, I mean, Condi, tell him to.

"We got Saddam" will be the mantra.

they liberated the Iraqis & turned over the government to them.

But I don't think they plan to hand over power or leave: I think they plan to SAY they have handed over power and that they are in the process of leaving. They're betting the illusion of a pull-out will be enough to win the election.

this great country we live in blows a place all to hell and then cuts and runs!

I'm so sick of what is being done in my name!

I'm sure the sheep in this country will consider the war a success even though this is nothing but RETREAT!

The Australian Prime Minster John Howard, who is so far up GWBush you can only see his shoes, will keep our 200 troops in Iraq because GWB will have forgotten to give him orders to pull out.

We are praying GWB will be kicked out because the suckers here who vote for Howard will turn against him, unfortunately we will probably go to an election before the USA, government don't have to run the full term here and they rarely do.

designed to placate the portion of the population that wants to believe it. It's a popular parlor trick with the * folks: lots of conflicting noises, suggesting lots of different possible outcomes. The hope is that those who don't pay much attention to politics will grab onto whichever soundbite makes them feel best. That way, lots of different people who want different things can all believe that * is doing what they want done. Of course, this trick would backfire if anybody ever assembled enough soundbites to see that *'s team sounds chaotic or ever paid close enough attention to what *'s team does.