Iraqi president hiding in the Green Zone says US withdrawal would be “catastrophic”

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.ae/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2006/October/focusoniraq_October233.xml§ion=focusoniraq&col=

PARIS - An immediate retreat of US armed forces from Iraq would have “catastrophic” consequences for the region and the entire world, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani told the daily Le Figaro in an interview published on Tuesday.

“In Iraq, there is a consensus among political forces to say that an immediate withdrawal would have catastrophic results for our country, as well as the Middle East and the entire world,” Talabani said.

He said that a withdrawal of the multinational coalition from his country will occur only “when Iraqi security forces are ready on their own to face the challenge of keeping order.”

Talabani also rejected the establishment of a timetable for the reduction of foreign troops in his country.

[Atman]

1. Good thing NO ONE is calling for an IMMEDIATE RETREAT

Christ, has Uncle Dick been talking to him again? Just who is calling for an immediate retreat?

.

[louis-t]

2. It would be catastrophic for him.

If he is believed to be a US puppet, he wouldn't last two weeks.

[Dhalgren]

3. The problem that the puppet government has (and the same

problem our Dictatorship has) is that the "insurgency" is more than capable of restoring order. The "insurgency" has no problem "standing up troops". Why is that? If the "insurgents" were in control of the Iraqi government, does anyone doubt that they would restore order in a relatively short time? I don't doubt that they would. So, why are we once again backing the wrong horse?

[enigma000]

7. Which insurgents?

The Sunni insurgents? These groups (a dozen? 2 dozen?) have differing political outlooks - some are Baathist, some are religious, some are just criminals. What sort of unity and control could they impose? Plus would the Shia accept a Sunni dictatorship again?

The same thing goes for the Shia militias.

[Dhalgren]

9. Regardless of how many there are, there is an undeniable

coordination among these groups and that, to me, is far more than the puppet government or the Shia militias have. Sadr cannot control even his own militia, Maliki cannot control his own lunch room. I think that the "insurgency" is far more unified than we are being told and since the US government is already holding talks with them (the US must be speaking to someone who is speaking for the "insurgency") it may be that we are headed in that direction, already...

[enigma000]

11. I'm not sure how this can play out

Do the insurgents join the government? Do they become the government? What about the elected national assembly? Who sets the new rules - the insurgents? The government, as it is now, has much support from the Shia segment of the population. I'm not sure they will allow a change without a fight.

[Dhalgren]

12. Well, the Shia majority do not seem willing to fight now, so if

something can get them to stand up, maybe that's a good thing in the long run. Why aren't the Shia going out and fighting the "insurgency"? All the Shia militias seem to be doing is ethnically cleansing the areas they nominally control, why aren't they out their protecting their country from the "insurgency"? If the only way that they will fight for themselves is if the US withdraws its support, then the sooner the better...

[enigma000]

13. Your idea might be the best plan

Pull the troops out, but leave some "advisers" embedded in the units of the Iraqi army, and let the Iraqis solve this themselves. It may mean years of sectarian violence, however, eventually, they may tire of the fighting and reach political compromise. All the US has to do is ensure the conflict stays within Iraq's borders.

[LaurenG]

4. Then he needs to get to work on "his" country

I've had enough and there needs to be a cutoff and goal setting strategy now! We need the dog whisperer's words of wisdom as I've noticed it's sound advice for people as well, especially teenagers and those with maturity issues:

"As the human pack leader you must set boundaries, rules and limitations and always project a calm, assertive energy". It's becoming my mantra.

[bigtree]

5. he should have thought about that before he assumed his throne

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

6. The Reason We're Not Leaving...

It is true. The country would fall apart COMPLETELY. It would be on view for the world to watch and see. The consequences for King george could be far worse on a worldwide scenario, than whatever difficulties some easily Rigged election would pose.

[MadHound]

10. Trouble is that it doesn't matter when the US leaves

The result will be the same. A collapse of the US installed government, since any government set up under the auspices of the US is going to be considered illegal and illegit, followed by a civil war and the establishment, most likely, of another less than democratic government. This is going to happen, no matter when we leave. Therefore, in order to prevent further bloodshed on our part, and further US casualties, it is best to leave now. Staying the course, hoping for a stable government is a fool's errand, guaranteed that we'll be in Iraq forever. Yes, it will be a major US embarassment, but hey, so was Vietnam. I'd rather our country be embarrassed in such a way than to continue down the bloodsoaked path we're on now.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

14. True....But....

I'm just saying why we won't leave under this current administration. They Can't Leave. It doesn't matter what the American people think. Or probably even what the Congress thinks. King george will just say that it's not technically a "war" in Iraq, or some other BS, to justify his decision to remain there.

He won't leave because the consequences to him would be disasterous, and he'd be signing his own indictment certificate in terms or world court consequences, I think. If we leave, and Iraq falls completely apart, the world will blame him even more than they are now, and he could potentially be held accountable while he's still in office.

[Jacobin]

8. Wasn't too good for the S. Vietnamese US flunkies either

After we left Viet Nam.

That's the problem with being a puppet official. I'm sure he'll have a nice resort in the South of France with a couple of billion dollars in our loot to retire to, unless of course, his own countrymen get to him first.