Iraq defense minister sees need for U.S. until 2018

[BuyingThyme]

Iraq defense minister sees need for U.S. until 2018

By Thom Shanker
Published: January 15, 2008

FORT MONROE, Virginia: The Iraqi defense minister said Monday that his nation would not be able to take full responsibility for its internal security until 2012, nor be able on its own to defend Iraq's borders from external threat until at least 2018.

Those comments from the minister, Abdul Qadir, were among the most specific public projections of a timeline for the American commitment in Iraq by officials in either Washington or Baghdad. And they suggested a longer commitment than either government had previously indicated.

...

President George W. Bush has never given a date for a military withdrawal from Iraq but has repeatedly said that American forces would stand down as Iraqi forces stand up. Given Qadir's assessment of Iraq's military abilities on Monday, such a withdrawal appeared to be quite distant, and further away than any American officials have previously stated in public.

Qadir's comments are likely to become a factor in political debate over the war. All of the Democratic presidential candidates have promised a swift American withdrawal, while the leading Republican candidates have generally supported Bush's plan. Now that rough dates have been attached to his formula, they will certainly come under scrutiny from both sides.

...

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/15/africa/15military.php

[cloudbase]

1. It may be longer than that.

Proof here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbK76okexVk

[BuyingThyme]

2. It's interesting how short timelines cannot be discussed and long ones are just fine.

[Vincardog]

3. Well if they can't defend themselves how about we get a band of their brother states to pitch in

and help out? I think the Saudis have a little extra military aid to pitch in.

[doc03]

4. John McCain would be happy to keep troops

in Iraq to 2108 or even 3008 if they are needed. We don't care as long as the casualties are not too high according to him. If McCain gets the nomination we have to play the hell out of that statement.

[Disturbed]

5. As long as the US Troops deaths are low the majority of

Americans aren't that interested in Iraq. That is the plan of top Rethugs & Dems.