Richardson wants U.S. troops replaced in Iraq---by ARABS

[rodeodance]

Source: reuters


Richardson wants U.S. troops replaced in Iraq
Thu Oct 11, 2007 1:23pm

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (Reuters) - Peacekeeping troops from Arab countries and Turkey should replace U.S. forces in Iraq within a year, and Iran and Syria should serve as guarantors of regional stability, Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson said on Thursday.

Iran and Syria, regarded as a state sponsor of terrorism by Washington, should agree not to interfere in Iraq, the New Mexico governor said at a campaign stop in New Hampshire.

"They would sign on to say, 'We will respect the boundaries and the territorial integrity of Iraq,'" Richardson said at an elementary school in Manchester.

"The troops would be U.N. troops, I wouldn't object to NATO troops, but principally I think they should be Arab troops."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1137974520071011

---

best thing i have heard in a long time.

let the ME govern itself

[progpen]

1. Meanwhile, back at the White House...

AWOL spit bourbon out his nose when Uncle Dick read him this bedtime story.

[ohio2007]

2. I doubt the Arab/Persian leadership would risk sending loyal troops

far away from their seats of power.

Turkey,it seems, is ready to set the example and occupy their slice of Iraq but we won't see Arabs falling in behind Richardson


.. I could be wrong though ;) lol

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. Turks want to occupy Iraqi Kurdistan?

There's a big surprise! I wouldn't exactly call it altruism or "setting an example," unless the example is rampant militarism in Iraq can accomplish domestic goals of marginalizing populations!

[The Stranger]

11. That is a ridiculous statement. Of course you are wrong.

The Arab countries have promised support and have offered to come in if they could only get the Neocon Administration out. The whole lying meme about the U.S. leaving to chaos is utter bullshit: the UN could go in behind the U.S., but the Neocons have succeeded in cutting off the U.S. from the UN and its normal leadership position in the UN.

[ohio2007]

14. I missed that story link. Can you dig it up?

They've been talking the talk since this mid 2004 article was put out. It's worth a review after three years just to see how much things have or have not changed;


Arab troops and the Iraq dilemma

snip
It is based on the assumption that such troops would be more sensitive to Iraqi culture and for that reason, Iraqis would be less hostile to them.

But when the idea was floated last year it produced mixed reactions from within Iraq itself.

The Iraqi Governing Council - which has now been replaced by the Interim Government - could not agree.

Those against the plan expressed views similar to the one stated by Mr Bayati.

They feared neighbouring countries would use their troops to further their own agendas at the expense of Iraqi national interests.


Suspicion

The Kurds in particular were worried by the prospect of Turkish troops deployed anywhere near their semi-autonomous region in the north.

snip

Hostile public

These governments were opposed to the war on Iraq and they suspected that the proposals were designed to help the Americans to quell the insurgency.

That is particularly problematic for Arab leaders because large sectors of their population regard it not as an insurgency but as a legitimate Iraqi resistance to foreign occupation.

Now that power has been transferred to the Iraqis, Arab governments that were willing to send troops to Iraq may try to present the issue to its public as way of helping a brotherly Arab state.

But it seems unlikely that Arab public opinion would be swayed by this argument.

Nor is it certain that the Iraqis would overcome their reluctance to involve their immediate neighbours in their internal affairs.

At this stage, many Iraqis feel that

the best contribution their neighbours can make to stability in Iraq is to prevent Arab fighters from crossing into their country.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3862083.stm

dunno if accurate records are kept on the flow of foriegn jihadi's into Iraq since June 2004 but

they should be...... especially after the Arab custom of freeing prisoners during the month of Ramadan.

[Gamey]

3. Any idea is better than "stay the course"

[BrotherBuzz]

4. It's doable and logical, and would piss off the PNACers to no end.

I like.

Still, the devil is in the details, and toes are going to be stepped on, but it would be better than what is developing in the Middle East at present.

[ohio2007]

5. So which Arab country are you betting on to be the 1st sign up?

imo,
this article will not grow legs or snowball, especially in the Arab world. You can bet on those Arab leaders can not be 'bought' or sold on it

[Robbien]

6. The Sauds

The King needs a newly expanded fiefdom.

[The Stranger]

12. What are you basing this nonsense you're posting on?

They have been trying to get the U.S. out and have offered to follow to stabilize Iraq after the Neocon Administration has left:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20040703/ai_n14581405

[Reno.Muse]

8. great idea

the best I've heard in awhile!

[Dr Fate]

9. Great talking point!

I like the point he is trying to make very much.

Score for Richie!!!

[Vidar]

10. It's a daring idea with merit, but could easily backfire. I commend Richardson for it.

[ohio2007]

13. Persians and Turks are ready to fill the void

where few US GI's are stationed


Turkey Forms Alliance With Iran Against Kurds
http://www.newsmax.com/timmerman/turkey_iran_/2007/10/15/40957.html

Even if it was under the UN banner, I still say Arabs won't risk weakening their own regimes if they send loyal troops in.
Syria doesn't have a very proud record of their troops filling in overseas as peacekeepres but,Richardson should take what he can get.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

15. Dean was pushing that....4 years ago.

:hurts:



Q: Your web site says that you've "opposed President Bush's war in Iraq from the beginning." Now that that war can't be undone, what would you do about Iraq?

A: George Bush's father had over 100,000 foreign troops in Iraq, many of whom where from Muslim nations. We need to bring troops from those countries back to Iraq to replace our Guard and Reserve troops and one of our two divisions in Iraq. This cannot be an American occupation it must be and international reconstruction effort.

Source: Concord Monitor / WashingtonPost.com on-line Q&A Nov 6, 2003