Thread: Hmm..Iraq government says U.S. can leave anytime we like. .

Well, WTF are we waiting for?

From Associated Press:

BAGHDAD - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki shrugged off U.S. doubts about his government's military and political progress yesterday, saying his forces are capable and American troops can leave "any time they want."

One of his top aides accused the United States of embarrassing the Iraqi government by violating human rights and treating his country like an "experiment in a U.S. lab."

Maliki's display of confidence comes as pressure mounts in Congress for a speedy withdrawal of U.S. forces. The prime minister shrugged off last week's negative report on how well his government was meeting 18 benchmarks set by the United States, citing his country's turmoil.

"We are not talking about a government in a stable political environment, but one in the shadow of huge challenges," Maliki said, and having "negative points" is "fairly natural." He said Iraq needs some time, but "we say in full confidence that we are able, God willing, to take the responsibility completely in running the security file if the international forces withdraw at any time they want."

Shia lawmaker and close adviser Hassan al-Suneid bristled over the American pressure, saying "the situation looks as if it is an experiment in an American laboratory [judging] whether we succeed or fail." He sharply criticized the U.S. military, saying it commits human-rights violations and embarrasses his government through such tactics as building a wall in a Sunni neighborhood in Baghdad and launching raids on suspected Shia militiamen in the Sadr City slum.

In addition, he said Maliki has problems with the top U.S. commander, Gen. David Petraeus, who he said works along a "purely American vision."

Al-Maliki dismisses doubts about Iraq government - Newsday.com


That would be it for me. We don't put our soldiers in harm's way for an ungrateful people.

I think the best strategy would be to leave, let the insurgents fight it out until one group gained control, got more organized and then go back and surgically bomb them when they aren't scattered about and hiding like cockroaches, kind of like turning the lights out on them then going in and picking them off in the dark with night vision goggles....