This is good journalism of the kind I especially like: taking the words of important officials -- in this case, the words of Iraq's national security advisor, prime minister and al-Maliki's most formidable Shiite opponent -- and revealing the true Iraqi attitude toward the continued American military presence in Iraq. They want US out, and no deal will be signed without a withdrawal schedule and complete authority over military bases there reverting to Iraqis. In short, Iraqi leaders' desires are in general agreement with Obama's and in direct conflict with imperialist McCain's and Bush's.

Finally, a strong request asking for a “good-bye” timetable for America's occupation of Iraq. However, it didn’t come from those terrible, unpatriotic (neoconese for traitorous) Democrats in Congress, but from important Iraq leaders themselves. If Bush really means what he said that if we were asked to leave we would leave, then withdrawal is imminent. But since when have Bushies ever done what they promised to do? And who wants to withdraw and leave all that oil? Standby for the copious propaganda crank up from the neocon rhetorical robots.

This is an excellent short article. The most important quote is from Nasar al Rubaie who cites two reasons for asking American forces to leave. 'The first is that the occupation is like a magnet for terrorism". That makes so much sense it is hard to ignore.

Senior Iraqi officials, including the Prime Minister, want a timetable for troop withdrawal. Muqtada al-Sadr, one of the country's most influential clerics, is adamant that U.S. led forces must leave. President Bush said continued presence of American forces is up to the Iraqi government. Because the authorizing UN mandate expires within 6 months, Iraqis and Americans are conducting bi-lateral talks to govern a continuing U.S. role. White House spokesman Tony Fratto says that withdrawal dates are not part of the negotiations. The Washington Post fails to draw these conflicting threads together nor does it report on irreconcilable comments of the Iraqi foreign minister who states that an agreement between his country and the U.S. ... More »

Hardly earth-shattering news, just one more straw on the camel's back. The latest Iraqi official to say they want us to leave. The question here really is, will we do what we said? Will we leave if asked? Will we leave when the UN mandate ends? That's what the world is watching.

Most Iraqis want the US to leave sooner rather than later, and this fact increasingly is being reflected in the attitudes of Iraqi officials. The Iraqi government does not want to commit to a long-term US occupation or quasi-occupation, and the incendiary effect of the American military presence is getting much more attention than previously obtained.

Well-documented story that clearly demonstrates the Iraqi desire for a pull-out of American troops. Why can't all stories provide such clear information?