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Official: Iraq Planning for
U.S. Pullout
QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
AP
Monday May 21, 2007
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's military is drawing up plans on how to
cope if U.S.-led forces leave the country quickly, the defense minister
said Monday.
The statement by Defense Minister Abdul-Qader al-Obeidi marked
the first time a senior Iraqi official has spoken publicly about
the possibility of a quick end to the U.S.-led mission.
It was unclear if the remarks were more than routine contingency
planning.
"The army plans on the basis of a worst case scenario so as
not to allow any security vacuum," al-Obeidi said. "There
are meetings with political leaders on how we can deal with a sudden
pullout."
The White House is negotiating with Democratic leaders in Congress
over a war-spending bill for Iraq. President Bush vetoed the first
version because it set timetables for the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
Last week, Sen. Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate,
said senators in both parties are frustrated with the Iraqi government's
lack of progress in meeting political goals and reconciling the
country's religious and ethnic groups.
However, Bush expressed confidence in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
in a telephone call from his ranch in Texas, White House spokesman
Tony Fratto said.
"The president reaffirmed his confidence in the prime minister
and noted the courage that he has shown in a challenging and difficult
year," Fratto said.
"Obviously we want the Iraqis and the Iraqi parliament to
move as quickly as possible," Fratto said. "Progress on
advancing these initiatives is not moving as quickly as anyone wants
-- and I think that includes Prime Minister Maliki and many members
of parliament."
INFOWARS:
BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND
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