Pulling U.S. forces out of Iraq will improve the security situation there, Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi claimed Sunday, days after Iraqi leaders agreed to negotiate a possible post-2011 occupation. Hashemi, a Sunni Muslim and one of two vice presidents whose positions are largely ceremonial, said a continued American military presence in Iraq would be “a problem, not a solution.”
Hashemi’s statements seem to recognize that only full sovereignty will make Iraq safe and independent. Without explicitly mentioning Iran, Hashemi said “The withdrawal of American combat forces will lead to an improvement in the security situation in Iraq by calming the concerns of neighbouring countries that felt threatened,” perhaps upset with the influence Shiite Iran has gained in Iraq of late.
An additional issue is the political faction within Iraq linked to Moqtada al-Sadr, who has promised to not only reject an extension of U.S. troops in Iraq, but to target troops, including “trainers,” as fair game for attack. Clearly, only a full withdrawal of U.S. troops will prevent an upscale in violence and pacify Iraqis who refuse to continue to be militarily occupied.
U.S. leaders, desperate to continue to occupy Iraq to solidify dominance over their newfound client state, have been pressuring the Iraqi leadership for months on an extension. Negotiations are ongoing over whether and how many of the 47,000 remaining troops will stay. Unresolved issues include the size of the force, its responsibilities, the duration of its stay, and whether its members would be immune from Iraqi prosecution.
But Hashemi insisted that Iraqi security assistance going forward does not have to come from the U.S. “I hope in the near future,” he said, “Iraq will be open to Russia, southeast Asia and the European Union. There are many countries that have technology which is comparable to what is available in the US, and this technology competes with American technology at lower prices.”
These aren't even stories anymore. The US isn't going anywhere. Iraq is a colony.
Tareq al-Hashemi's argument is supported by historical precedents. Contrary to the fears of the day and GW Bush's more recent mangling of the historical record, there does not appear to have been any significant or widespread retribution within Vietnamese society following the US withdrawal in 1975.
The British were also once in the business of issuing dire warnings about the chaos that would follow the American War of Independence if they were they forced to leave; again fears that proved to be groundless.
The process of national reconciliation in Iraq must be left to the Iraqi people to navigate.
The continuing presence of US occupation forces is a part of the problem; not the solution.
I suspect that this Sunni, ceremonial VP has probably shortened his life span. Saying things like "we'll do fine after the US leaves…" are not career-enhancing statements. But they'll chalk it up to al-Qaeda or that ubiquitous "sectarian violence."
The only reason America wants to stay is because of greed.They want to continue riping of Iraq in there illegal ocupation that started on lies.The people did not like Saddam but liked him much more than there American invaders that kill more civillians in one year than Saddam would have in 20.I heard Iraqies say Saddam would have never let them live as bad as they are with America there illegaly.
hey it worked for Vietnam! And now we're pals!