US To Demand Free Rein in Iraq Long After Bush Leaves

[bluevoter4life]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — With its international mandate in Iraq set to expire in 11 months, the Bush administration will insist that the government in Baghdad give the United States broad authority to conduct combat operations and guarantee civilian contractors specific legal protections from Iraqi law, according to administration and military officials.

This emerging American negotiating position faces a potential buzz saw of opposition from Iraq, with its fragmented Parliament, weak central government and deep sensitivities about being seen as a dependent state, according to these officials.

At the same time, the administration faces opposition from Democrats at home, who warn that the agreements that the White House seeks would bind the next president by locking in Mr. Bush’s policies and a long-term military presence.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/world/middleeast/25military.html?ex=1358917200&en=30c33820b32f91bf&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

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I am speechless. I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. This is just disgusting.

[bdamomma]

1. the poison of the * regime will linger on unless we get a Dem

in the WH to eradicate these plans.

[WillParkinson]

7. And which "Dem" will do that?

Kucinich dropped out. Most everyone else seems willing to remain with the status quo and stick it out in Iraq.

[UpInArms]

9. this one

[WillParkinson]

11. Ah...

The proverbial snowball in hell.

Edwards has very little chance to secure the party nomination. Truth be told, if he lasts until Wisconsin, he's got my vote. And he's the only one (who is still in the race) who has earned it.

[rodeodance]

13. Nice photo

[sam sarrha]

2. we should a start a national program to send bags of Pretzels to the WhiteHouse...

[Mike Daniels]

3. Why would it lock us into anything?

Bush has basically said we're backing out of certain agreements other presidents established.

Why couldn't a Democratic party president do the same thing?

[Ganja Ninja]

5. Exactly.

Let him make all the agreements he wants. We'll declare he was insane and they aren't legal. Who's going to argue with that?

[katmondoo]

4. One of the first things Bush did was to repeal

just about everything former Presidents did. Kyoto was one. If Bush could do it so can another President. I believe Bush has set a prescience for future Presidents good or bad, on day one just change everything you disagree with.

[jody]

6. Iraq is sovereign nation as long as it does what the U.S. says. n/t

[UpInArms]

8. didn't this asswipe void all of Clinton's policies when he stole his way

into 1600 Pennsylvania Ave?

Well, my friends, it can be done to his policies and agreements also.

I say to hell with everything this POS and his mal-administration has done - we will wipe our feet on it when he is gone.

[ananda]

10. Whaattt...

"deep sensitivities about being seen as a dependent state" ???

Are Iraqis now wearing those spinning target glasses that Reeps
and Reep followers wear, too? Double sheesh.

[rodeodance]

12. US, the Colonizer.

[moondust]

14. Tear it up and forget it.

Any private agreements made by the Bush administration will not be worth the paper they are printed on when the Bush administration goes back to shoveling pig shit in Crawford where they belong. The Iraqis should be fully aware of this before they agree to anything or expect anything to happen based on this kind of wishful thinking.

[focusfan]

15. Bush is still wanting to make money

even though he will not be in office.thats why the next
president needs to tear the papers up and end the war in Iraq

[Buns_of_Fire]

16. The first thing the new Democratic President should do...

Is to paraphrase a line from Ron Ziegler and say: "That is no longer the operative policy."

I'd like for them to add, "Our long national nightmare is over," but that's probably expecting too much.

[SpikeTss]

17. Why is this regarded as news?

Did anyone really believe that the war of aggression against the Iraqis (and the Afghans) were undertaken to do any good for them?

C'mon! It would be easier to believe that Hitler was a Samaritan.