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Timetable Says U.S. Out of Iraq by 2011

August 21, 2008 in Middle East, Military, Politics, Terrorism | 1 comment

Negotiators for the U.S. and Iraq have finally come to an agreement on the disposition of American forces in Iraq. The new security deal will require U.S. forces to leave Iraq cities and towns by next summer as a prelude to a complete withdrawal by 2011. In the meantime, the U.S. troops will reside in bases outside the populated areas it vacated. President Bush is expected to accept the agreement, but it still needs to pass through several layers of Iraqi bureaucracy , so who knows?

Although, I don’t think Bush is really too happy with the concessions he’s had to make, I’m looking forward to a U.S. drawdown. However, I would have liked to see a SOFA agreement and the permanent stationing of U.S. forces in Iraq, a goal I think the President was shooting for, too. Still, Iraq is a a sovereign state and can (and should) manage its own affairs. If they want us to leave, we should. I’m interested to see what happens in the areas we vacate. As we exit and larger areas are left to Iraqi control, will we see the terrorists move back in? Will we see Iran attempt to achieve control by fueling a new insurgency?

If things get tough for Iraq after America leaves, who are they gonna call for help?

Iraq Wants a Timetable?

July 8, 2008 in Korea, Middle East, Military, Politics, Terrorism | No comments

Iraq’s National Security Advisor, Mouwaffak al-Rubaie, says that any security deal with the U.S. must contain a specific timetable for troop withdrawal.

Fine.

I don’t have a problem with leaving Iraq after the job is done. But to post a departure schedule is beyond ridiculous. The Iraqi’s position calls for all U.S. led forces to leave once Iraqi forces have resumed security responsibility for all 18 of the country’s provinces. So far, Iraq has assumed primary responsibility for security in 9 of the 18 provinces.

So, essentially Iraq is asking us to say,

“Hey, al-Qaida! We’ll be out of Iraq just as soon as we turn over this last province. Just lay low for a while and things will soon be back to normal. In fact, if you’re quiet, we’ll probably finish the job faster!”

You know, Japan has the second largest GDP, China is #4 and South Korea is #12. A large portion of the world’s economic exchange takes place within this relatively small portion of the world. And in the middle of it all is North Korea, a failed economy. North Korea, whose stated objective is the reunification of the Korean peninsula. Imagine what this would do to the region and the world’s economy. What’s preventing North Korea from moving on its southern neighbor? The U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force, who have maintained stability in the region for almost 60 years.

Perhaps that’s just what the Iraqi and other Middle Eastern governments are afraid of.

Kosovo Declares its Independence

February 17, 2008 in Europe, Politics, Russia | 1 comment

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia today and now stands as the world’s newest country. Administered since 1999 by the United Nations, the new nation is banking on US and EU support to bolster its failing economy; the US and EU are expected to grant diplomatic recognition of the new state.

Kosovo is also hoping the US and EU recognition will prevent the escalation of hostilities between the new state and rivals Serbia and Russia, who are not the least bit happy about the current situation. Russia considers Kosovo’s move for independence to be a provocation that may entice similar action from the former Soviet Union’s southern rim minorities. Serbia isn’t recognizing Kosovo independence, referring to it as “a false state.” Russia stands solidly behind Serbia in condemning Kosovo’s secession and is whining to the UN Security Council.

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, “Kosovo is proud, independent, sovereign and free” and parliament speaker Jakup Krasniqi said, “Kosovo is a republic — an independent, democratic and sovereign state”. However, I think it’s important to note, and no one is mentioning this in any of the news reports, the new nation of Kosovo is primarily Muslim. Remember, Islam will accept no government other than Islam and I predict that any attempt at democracy in Kosovo will be short-lived.

::: MORE :::

Hot Air is the first report I’ve found considering the potential role of Islam in the new independent Kosovo.

ComingAnarchy reports with photos of a Kosavar independence celebration in Stuttgart.

Webloggin also observes that the majority of ethic Albanians in Kosovo are Muslim and that Kosovo’s prime minister, the former rebel leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army, is reported to have ties to Osama Bin Laden.

nK Agrees…Again

October 4, 2007 in Korea, Politics | 1 comment

During the recent round of six party talks between nK, China, Russia, ROK, Japan and the U.S., Pyongyang agreed to quickly dismantle key portions of its nuclear program and publicly account for all past nuclear activities, including bombs like the one it tested underground a year ago.

Personally, this sounds like the same old song-and-dance we’ve listened to for years. I understand the pressure to secure a deal with Pyongyang. After all, the possibility that Kim Jong Il will sell nuclear know-how to countries like Iran and Syria is a legitimate concern, and the sooner he’s out of the nuclear power business the better. And of course, the Bush administration desperately needs a diplomatic victory in nK to save face. But in our desperation, we’re dropping our guard.

This agreement sets a timetable for Pyongyang to come clean on all its nuclear programs and disable all nuclear facilities in exchange for 950,000 metric tons of fuel oil or its equivalent in economic aid. Sound familiar?

Oh, by the way, the agreement also requires the U.S. to “begin the process of removing” nK from the terrorism-sponsor list “in parallel” with the actions taken by Pyongyang. In July, Assistant Secretary of State, Christopher Hill, set the stage for this when he said the U.S. was willing to start the process after we “see how far the North Koreans are prepared to move on denuclearization.”

Evidently, no movement at all was sufficient.

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