Thursday, May 10, 2007

Can we get out of Iraq?

Had a lengthy discussion last night regarding getting out of Iraq where I was basically pessimistic about the chances under the current administration. Simply put, the Cheney crowd aren't going to budge. But today's news from the Iraqi parliament provides another push in the right direction.

BAGHDAD (AP) - A majority of Iraqi legislators have endorsed a bill calling for a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops and demanding a freeze on the number of foreign troops already in the country.

The legislation was being debated even as U.S. politicians were locked in a dispute with the White House over their call to start reducing the size of the U.S. force in Iraq.

The Iraqi bill, drafted by a parliamentary bloc loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, was signed by 144 members of the 275-member house, according to Nassar al-Rubaie, the leader of the Sadrist bloc.

The Sadrist bloc, which sees the U.S.-led forces as an occupying army, has pushed similar bills before, but this was the first time it had garnered the support of a majority of legislators.

The bill would require the Iraqi government to seek approval from parliament before it requests an extension of the UN mandate for foreign forces to be in Iraq, al-Rubaie said. It also calls for a timetable for the troop withdrawal and a freeze on the size of the foreign forces.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2007/05/10/pf-4168971.html



I doubt that shrub and crew will pay much attention, but it may help strengthen congressional willpower. Also noted that Moqtada al-Sadr is driving this in parliament, further strengthening his political position.

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