WAR: Bremer tells Iraqi Leaders US would leave Iraq if Iraqi Gov't Requests It

Paul Bremer has told a group of Iraqi leaders that the United States would leave Iraq, if the the new Iraqi government requests it, following the June 30th transfer of power. Bremer states that U.S. forces would not stay where they are not welcome. Even though there is a June 30th deadline for soveriegnty, the U.S. plans to keep a large number of troops in the country for an unknown length of time, which puts doubts in the minds of many about true soveriegnty for Iraq.

Bremer Tells Iraqi Leaders US Would Leave Iraq if Iraqi Government So Requests
"If the provisional government asks us to leave we will leave," Bremer said, referring to an Iraqi administration due to take power June 30. "I don't think that will happen, but obviously we don't stay in countries where we're not welcome."

On Thursday, Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman said the new Iraqi government will not have the authority to evict American forces from Iraq, quickly reversing a statement made minutes earlier before a House of Representatives panel.

Grossman's comments reflect the difficult balance the U.S. government is trying to strike as it moves closer to the June 30 handover.

When first asked by House International Relations Committee members whether an interim Iraqi government could force U.S. troops to leave, Grossman stressed that Iraqi leaders wanted them to remain. He also said that the Iraqi interim constitution and a U.N. resolution gave them authority to do so.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican, kept asking Grossman, "If they ask us to leave, we will leave, will we not?" Pressed for a yes-or-no answer, Grossman eventually said yes.

But he later agreed with another panelist, Lt. Gen. Walter L. Sharp, that the interim constitution and U.N. resolution gave U.S.-led forces responsibility for Iraqi security for the immediate future.

With tensions high and the focus on Iraq suddenly turn negative in the eyes of many in the USA and the world, it would seem that we have a bit of doublespeak happening among US officials in Iraq.


[Edited on 5-14-2004 by worldwatcher]

The June 30 deadline for an Iraqi provisional government takeover of internal affairs never was meant as a date for U.S. military withdrawl in fact it would be suicidal for the provisional government to make such a request.

To mention such a scenario as one that could happen soon is just a political nicety for those that have a need to hear it.

An interesting situation for the new Iraqi governors, to be sure. Requesting that US forces pull out would leave them more than a little vulnerable, but would go a long way toward putting forth the image of a new, sovereign nation, rather than that of some umbilical U.S. commonwealth.

If we pull out, Iraq will, no doubt, become a crucible of government-- it's sink or swim for the new leaders, and we can only pray that they keep their # straight, so to speak.

Originally posted by Phoenix
The June 30 deadline for an Iraqi provisional government takeover of internal affairs never was meant as a date for U.S. military withdrawl in fact it would be suicidal for the provisional government to make such a request.

To mention such a scenario as one that could happen soon is just a political nicety for those that have a need to hear it.

You are absolutely correct, Phoenix. But I hope that they do tell us to leave, and that we do leave.

My reasons for wanting this are well documented here in ATS. The Iraqis do not appreciate our sacrifices nor do they deserve our help after spitting in our eye for all our efforts.

The USA is under pressure from within to leave, as well as from the UK and Australia, our supposed allies. What right have they to criticize us? Let them criticize their own leaders.

Give them back their country. Then they will have no reason to criticize us any longer. Let the apologist sympathizers go over there and help them to rebuild. The terrorist organizations will quickly move in and make the entire region a hotbed of violence in the name of Allah. The UN and countries such as France will rape the financial future of the Iraqi people, who are too stupid to solve their own problems.

The entire Iraqi population is not worth one single American life.

We can still be trading partners. We must demand cash up front for our products, however. If the Iraqi people suffer, that is too bad, so sad. Saddam took the food and medicine we sent to the people and gave it to his troops for years, so the people are accustomed to it anyway.

Then domestically we should place an immediate ban on immigration from Iraq, as well as other countries who gave us such a difficult time. No temporary visas, either.

It is time for Atlas to shrug (due respect to Ayn Rand for this concept).

The entire Iraqi population is not worth one single American life.

Congratulations on the most ignorant and egotistical statement of the day. Where would humanity be without the likes of you? I hear it's registeration time for summer classes in kindergarten...

Regarding Bremer... fluff pr, nothing more.

Colin Powell is backing up Bremer's statement and so is Jack Straw...seems that there is a sudden turn around as how quickly the administration wants to be out of Iraq now. Imagine if troops pull out before the elections. Bush will claim victory and seal his win.
Powell Says U.S., Other Forces Would Leave Iraq Should Iraqis Ask
"We're there to support the Iraqi people and protect them and the new government," Powell said at a news conference with other foreign ministers from the Group of Eight nations. "I have no doubt the new government will welcome our presence and am losing no sleep over whether they will ask us to stay."

But were the new government to say it could handle security, "then we would leave," Powell said.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said stability in Iraq would not be served by an abrupt withdrawal.

"But were the government that takes over to ask us to leave, we would leave," Straw said. Britain is the main force other than the United States in the U.S.-led military coalition that brought down Iraq's authoritarian government last year and is trying to restore calm in the aftermath.

Originally posted by Phoenix
The June 30 deadline for an Iraqi provisional government takeover of internal affairs never was meant as a date for U.S. military withdrawl in fact it would be suicidal for the provisional government to make such a request.

This statement is almost a backhanded "threat" to leave. I like it. Maybe it'll convince some of these Iraqi IGC whiners to appreciate the fact they do have more freedom than ever before but it could all go away in an instant without the US to prevent it. It's like we don't want the occupationists here - leave - BUT NOT TOO SOON!

Originally posted by Joseph Knecht
The entire Iraqi population is not worth one single American life.

Congratulations on the most ignorant and egotistical statement of the day. Where would humanity be without the likes of you?

Too bad if it offends you. They bite the hand that feeds them. You may consider them your equal; good for you. Go over there and live in squalor while sitting on some of the richest oil reserves in the world.

Egotistical? Yes. We know how to extract the oil and refine it. We can build the pipelines, the hospitals, the schools, the airports. They cannot. That has to tell you something about them.

We owe them nothing. We owe them even less when they turn on us when we are tring to bring them into the 21st century and they are humiliated by viewing the bottom of a foot, at the same time finding it "unholy" to view a woman's face. Let them live in their primitive ignorance, chanting to their god while hanging burned bodies from a bridge.

EDIT:
Give me one Henry Heimlich, and I'll give you 10,000 al Sadr's. See who contributes more to benefiting society. I'll even throw in 10,000 Chalabi's if you'd like.

That's the problem. They worship and follow the Muqtada's and slaughter the Henry's.



[Edited on 17-5-2004 by jsobecky]