Iraq ready if U.S. pulls troops quickly
BAGHDAD, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Iraqi government officials say they have emergency plans ready to implement in case the United States makes any sudden withdrawals of American troops.
Iraqi Member of Parliament Abbas Bayyati, who serves on the defense and security committee, told the state-owned Al-Sabah newspaper the government is prepared to face any emergency withdrawal of the U.S. Army, the Kuwait News Agency KUNA reported Wednesday.
Bayyati made the comments before U.S. President Barack Obama, on his first full day in the White House, was set to meet with military advisers to discuss the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama said during his campaign that he wanted combat troops out of Iraq within 16 months, while a status of forces agreement signed last year between the Bush administration and Iraq set the end of 2011 as the final troop pull-out date.
KUNA said Bayyati indicated in the interview that Obama administration officials are seeking ways to implement a new troop-level strategy that would not violate the existing agreement. He said Vice President Joe Biden's Middle East trip last week was meant in part to gauge the opinions of Iraqi leaders in preparation of the new strategy.
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ngl I just like seeing "President Barack Obama"...
Iraqi Member of Parliament Abbas Bayyati, who serves on the defense and security committee, told the state-owned Al-Sabah newspaper the government is prepared to face any emergency withdrawal of the U.S. Army, the Kuwait News Agency KUNA reported Wednesday.
Bayyati made the comments before U.S. President Barack Obama, on his first full day in the White House, was set to meet with military advisers to discuss the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama said during his campaign that he wanted combat troops out of Iraq within 16 months, while a status of forces agreement signed last year between the Bush administration and Iraq set the end of 2011 as the final troop pull-out date.
KUNA said Bayyati indicated in the interview that Obama administration officials are seeking ways to implement a new troop-level strategy that would not violate the existing agreement. He said Vice President Joe Biden's Middle East trip last week was meant in part to gauge the opinions of Iraqi leaders in preparation of the new strategy.
Source
ngl I just like seeing "President Barack Obama"...