BBC: Iraq leader says troops must stay ~ Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has said....

BBC ^ | Friday, 11 May 2007, 18:09 GMT 19:09 UK | BBC Staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Iraq leader says troops must stay

Jalal Talabani (right) also met Tony Blair at Downing Street

US and British troops will need to stay another one or two years in Iraq, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has said.

Mr Talabani was addressing students during a visit to Cambridge University.

Asked when the UK and US should leave, he said: "I think in one or two years we will be able to recruit our own army forces and say goodbye to our friends."

He added that he considered Prime Minister Tony Blair to be a "hero" and said he hoped Gordon Brown would continue his work.

In the latest violence in Iraq, twin suicide bombings in south-eastern Baghdad have killed 22 people and injured 60. The victims include police officers, Iraqi soldiers and civilians.

The attacks happened on two bridges in the capital which form a key route out of the south of the city.

'Great leader'

After a meeting with Mr Blair at 10 Downing Street, Mr Talabani said Mr Blair was a "dear friend" and a "great leader".

I think it was a very noble job that your army and your people did in Iraq Jalal Talabani

The Iraqi president expressed his sympathy towards the families of British forces killed in his country, who he said had died for a just cause.

He said: "I am very, very sorry for the lives lost in Iraq."

"I think it was a very noble job that your army and your people did in Iraq."

Mr Talabani urged US politicians to reconsider plans to begin withdrawing their forces from his country.

On Thursday, the US House of Representatives passed a draft bill that would provide funding for troops in Iraq only until July.

Mr Talabani told reporters: "We are concerned. We hope that Congress will review this decision and help the American army to stay until the Iraqi army will be able to replace them and to protect the security of Iraq."

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From the Blogosphere:

Iraq Update
Posted by AJStrata on May 11th, 2007

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And also from the Blogosphere:

May 11, 2007
Grim Milestone: Terrorist Casualties Close To Hitting All-Time High of 4000

[RWB Patriot]

This would be great...if the RATs actually cared about what the Iraqi people think. Iraq could be heaven on earth right now and those jack@$$es would still be calling it a disaster.

[UKrepublican]

It was an honor to have this man in my region today.

And from the tv clips I saw, he was very well received by the public.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the Report!

[Sleeping Beauty]

Don't get too excited. Simultaneously, back in Iraq today, the Parliament asked us to leave:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1832024/posts

[RFEngineer]

“...if the RATs actually cared about what the Iraqi people think”

American politicians should only care about what American citizens think.

Regardless of how you feel about the war, or political affiliation, putting non-citizen needs, wants, desires, and security above those of citizens is a huge mistake.

The mission in Iraq should never be “make Iraq safe” it should be “make America safe” If democracy breaks out in Iraq in the process, so be it. (and if it doesn’t so be it....)

[moose2004]

I have a quick question, does anyone know how many American casualties there were this week? The reason I ask was because of the absolutely ridiculous report David Shuster filed on “Hardball” today when he spoke about the increased violence in Baghdad and Diyala and the fact that 8 soldiers were killed there last week. I strongly suspect there were few if any American casualties this week (one is too many), and Shuster had to do his best to paint the picture in Iraq as bleak as possible. I’m convinced of one thing, that if the surge works and Bush announces some sort of drawdown of forces to commence at some point next year, the dems will try to spin in overdrive the fact that we “lost” Iraq and blame it all on Bush and the Repubs. 2008 could see the Repubs and the dems both claiming different results in Iraq, and it will be up to the American voters to decide who is telling the truth. I think the dems will have a very difficult time claiming defeat while at the same time claiming they “supported the troops” in their time of need. The last thing the dems want is to have an open fight with active and former members of the military, it will only remind middle of the ground voters just how weak the dems are on defense and the WOT, something that plays right into the Repubs’ hands.

[kinghorse]

Another reason democratic dissent kicks ass. If we didn’t have this dissent and bickering we would look like the guys Russia is calling us. By showing our ability to change course as a result of honest debate (everyone’s entitled to their opinion) and elections, they must come to the fore and show their pleasure at our continued presence. It’s a beautiful thing.

[kinghorse]

These guys dying are absolutely dying for our future. The only thing that would make their deaths meaningless is if we surrendered and left. You know if we leave on their terms we are persona non grata for the next 50 years there and the net result will be most likely millions of innocent lives lost due to overwhelming hostility coming from both sides. The Iranian/Syrian Axis would be powerful.

By showing our conviction we forced the USSR to back down at Buscher (sp). That a few billion $$ from the Saudi money tree. But we had to show we meant business.

This stock market rally is a celebration of our successful strategy. The Russians and Saudis blinked first. The Iranians are screwed from the club business and will now be forced to go the purely clandestine route to obtain nukes. We haven’t seen too much sucess from countries trying to acquire nuclear capability versus organically growing it. I think one reason is you need a lot of product and WIP (Hex Gas?) to keep the triggers ready. Someone help here.

[kinghorse]

Bush has been a hell of a sucessful president. It’s too bad our general public is just so damn clueless.

[Marine_Uncle]

Wonder how many where lost during wedding parties.

[SunkenCiv]

IMHO there is no way the terrorist casualties are about to hit 4000 — the number of killed has to be higher than that, and the casualties five or ten times that; and if adding in Afghanistan (and Yemen, smirk smirk) even higher.

[moose2004]

I agree with you completely. God bless our troops.

[RWB Patriot]

A lot of opponents of the war use the excuse of “the Iraqis don’t want us there” to justify cutting and running. That’s why I believe the opinion of the Iraqis is important.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Sadr and Iran are behind that move....

[RFEngineer]

“That’s why I believe the opinion of the Iraqis is important.”

The opinion of he Iraqi’s should be irrelevant to the prosecution of this war. Unfortunately they clearly hold sway, at the cost and risk to American lives. That is wrong, and it is a bad precedent to set for the world regarding expectations when american soldiers come to their shores, and a bad example for our soldiers and future military leaders to see - the US armed forces subordinating themselves to the likes of Iraqi’s. Iraqi’s are simply not worth it - my humble opinion.

[MountainFlower]

AWESOME!!!!

Support the Troops, GOE PING!