Nov 22 2005
Did Iraq Capitulate Or Did We Win? We Won.
The news that Iraq issued a communinque for a time table for the withdrawl of coalition forces caught me off guard this morning:
Reaching out to the Sunni Arab community, Iraqi leaders called for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces and said Iraq’s opposition had a “legitimate right” of resistance.
The communique _ finalized by Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni leaders Monday _ condemned terrorism but was a clear acknowledgment of the Sunni position that insurgents should not be labeled as terrorists if their operations do not target innocent civilians or institutions designed to provide for the welfare of Iraqi citizens.
Jawad al-Khalisi, a Shiite Muslim cleric of the National Foundation Congress, center, listens to Raad a-Alousi, Iraqi ambassador to the Arab League, left, as Majed Al-Sulieman, an Iraqi Sunni leader, right, looks on during the last day of a three-day preparatory meeting of the Iraqi reconciliation conference at the Arab league in Cairo, Egypt on Monday. (Amr Nabil – AP)
The leaders agreed on “calling for the withdrawal of foreign troops according to a timetable, through putting in place an immediate national program to rebuild the armed forces … control the borders and the security situation” and end terror attacks.
Emphasis mine. The headlines from the liberal propaganda houes news media made it sound like Iraq had given up and was ready for us to cut and run. All they focused on was the timetable to depart. And I am sure that is what the media will play it up as. And I would not be surprised that was why Mad Murtha and other dems were making all their troop withdrawl noise. They knew this was coming.
Why am I so sure? Well, to prove the media’s liberal bias and desire to spin I don’t need to do anything more than point to Drudge today:
**Exclusive**
At 11:04:45 AM ET Monday CNN was airing Vice President Dick Cheney’s speech live from the American Enterprise Institute in Washington — when a large black ‘X’ repeatedly flashed over the vice president’s face!
The ‘X’ over Cheney’s face appeared each time less than a second, creating an odd subliminal effect.
As this DRUDGE REPORT screen capture reveals, while one ‘X’ flashed over Cheney’s face CNN ran a headline at the bottom of its screen: “CHENEY: I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS WRONG TO CRITICIZE.”
On the matter of the dems, there is no way Iraq would blindside the US and British with this news. This is clearly the result of continued, long term negotiations with the Sunnis to provide a face saving path for them to join the new government. The definition of the the ‘non terrorists’ clearly does not include the Zarqawi style killing of Muslims in mosques, funerals or weddings. It also does not include the bombing of US forces and supplies since these are supposedly for the betterment of Iraq. And it clearly doesn’t include Iraqi security forces.
The message in this announcement is clear: Sunni’s have joined greater Iraq and now defend its institutions. The conditions for the timetable for departure are the same ones the Bush administration has had from day one: a secure Iraq. And there is more optimism buried in this story:
The preparatory reconciliation conference, held under the auspices of the Arab League, was attended by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Shiite and Kurdish lawmakers as well as leading Sunni politicians.
When the media want to emphasize something they feel is important the expand on it and repeat it. Here is a ‘fly by’ mention of the fact these discussions are being sanctioned by the broader Arab community – which means the Arab nations also now stand by our new ally Iraq. No wonder Bush and Cheney backed off blasting the liberal democrats over their ridiculous comments. They knew this was coming. And out of courtesy the democrats may have known as well, which is why there is a chance all their noise recently was an attempt to steal some of Bush’s bragging rights on nearing the end of the effort in Iraq.
Now Iraq speaks with confidence and one voice, with their Arab neighbors:
On Monday, Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Jabr suggested U.S.-led forces should be able to leave Iraq by the end of next year, saying the one-year extension of the mandate for the multinational force in Iraq by the U.N. Security Council this month could be the last.
…
“By the middle of next year we will be 75 percent done in building our forces and by the end of next year it will be fully ready,” he told the Arab satellite station Al-Jazeera.
Well, we do have something major to give thanks about this Thanksgiving!
UPDATES:
Lots more on the CNN-Xing at Michelle Malkins.
UPDATE:
Linked to Surber’s Open Thread
Leaving out your right wing basis, this was a good post. This is an obvious win for the US as long as we AGREE and POST a firm timetable. Just for grins however, I would like you to give some evidence that the Dems knew this was coming. Last time I looked the Right-Wing Republican leadership was still in it’s. “We own this place and don’t have to tell you anything” mode. It is HIGHLY unlikely they would call up a Dem and say “Hey, guys, we just got what you want! A timetable withdrawal!”
How did the Dems know?
One of the former Baathist Saddam officials who is front and
center in the photo ops was on CNN (where else) giving interview
regarding the plans for the agenda of this “reconciliation” last
week.
You don’t think the members of the “Arab League” have lots of
Dem buddies. Some may even be those “men in expensive suits”
that Kerry met with in “expensive NY restaurants”..the ones
that told Kerry “We need to get rid of that guy”.
It is also well known fact that most of the negotiation goes on long
before any actual gathering of participants at these touted
conferences.
A bit of research will show you that the Dems knew.
Folks, It is common courtesy in DC to alert Congress to what is going on. There is no need for subtrafuge here. Congressional leaders, both sides, are told of major events and upcoming news typically.
I grew up with these people and lived my whole life across the river from DC. The democrats knew the focus and status of the Iraq negotiations as well as republicans. It is not all out civil war yet.
I appreciate how you explained this withdrawal plan:
The Iraqi communique for the withdrawal of US forces ” is clearly the result of continued, long term negotiations with the Sunnis to provide a face saving path for them to join the new government….Sunni’s have joined greater Iraq and now defend its institutions. The conditions for the timetable for departure are the same ones the Bush administration has had from day one: a secure Iraq.”
P.S. The word Sunnis is plural, not possessive. No apostrophe is needed. Other than this small flaw, your post is perfect.
All the interesting information AJSTRATA posts is very helpful.
Observer–
You write:
“Just for grins however, I would like you to give some evidence that the Dems knew this was coming. Last time I looked the Right-Wing Republican leadership was still in it’s. “We own this place and don’t have to tell you anything†mode.”
The word “it’s” means “it is.” You should write “its.”
And nobody can tell the Democrats anything. They think they know it all.
[…] We posted on the ground breaking news that various Iraqi factions were finalizing their arrangements and coming together for the final vote next month on their permanent, democratic government. By New Year’s Eve we will be celebrating the birth of the largest, richest, most educated democracy in the Middle East. A new Iraq that is allied with America to fight Jihadists who are now openly targeting children, since they are not capable of fighting anything else. […]