Top US lawmaker: Iraq pullout 'on track

Top US lawmaker: Iraq pullout 'on track'
By: afp on: 25.06.2009 [21:03 ]






WASHINGTON (AFP) – A senior US lawmaker said Thursday that he hoped a recent wave of deadly attacks in Iraq would not affect the planned US troop draw-down next week and said it appears the withdrawal is "on track."

Asked whether the bombings could affect the plan, which calls for US combat troops to pull out from Iraq's cities and main towns Tuesday, Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told AFP: "I hope not."

"It (the violence) was not unanticipated. I think everybody was expecting the attacks to escalate in advance of the June 30th deadline," the Kentucky lawmaker said in an interview in his office in the US Capitol.

"Everything I've read — and I've not spoken to any of the military people in the last few weeks — indicates that the game plan is on track," said McConnell.

More than 200 people have been killed this month, with especially large bombings striking the northern city of Kirkuk — the bloodiest strike in Iraq in 16 months — and Baghdad's Sadr City.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has put the attacks down to an attempt by Al-Qaeda to undermine confidence in the country's security forces and revive sectarian division.

Iraq was blighted by such feuding in 2006 and 2007, when tens of thousands lost their lives.

Violence has dropped markedly since, with May 2009 seeing the fewest deaths linked to unrest since the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003. Attacks, however, remain common, especially in Baghdad and the restive northern city of Mosul.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090625...liticscongress

Local news: In a statement to the Iraqi Council for Peace and
Solidarity .. June 30 mission to the station through the withdrawal of
foreign forces and the completion of national sovereignty

بغداد /المدى Baghdad / term
Congratulated the Iraqi Council for Peace and solidarity to the Iraqi
people marched through the completion of the liberation of the
thirtieth of June, calling on Iraqis to more vigilant and cautious
about what Ebih of criminal terrorists. A statement issued by the
council on Tuesday the thirtieth of June is the historic mission
station for the people, where will be the complete withdrawal of U.S.
troops from Iraqi cities and the general receipt of our armed forces
and security files of the military. And comes in the context of
commitment to the terms of the withdrawal of foreign troops from our
country, signed between the Iraqi government and U.S. government in
November 2008.


This is an important step with the other
through the completion of national sovereignty by ending the foreign
occupation of our country, clearly the military forces from all Iraqi
territory, which is supposed to be completed by the end of 2011
commitments and the terms of the agreement in question.

He
received a statement (term) a copy of it: and that in this important
national occasion, we can not children of Iraq, but we have to restore
the thirtieth anniversary of the June 1920 uprising on the Grand
National, on our fathers and grandfathers responded to the brutal
British occupation, and remember his lessons deep pulling events and
are united, the lessons of the struggle for the completion of national
sovereignty and full independence was achieved and the vision of a safe
home safe and well managed with wisdom and the worthy sons of the
people's interest away from the dictates of state or foreign
interference is rejected and condemned.

The Iraqi Council for
Peace and solidarity at a time when people congratulate on this
occasion and shared their rejoicing and Msrath, to join together with
millions of people and the great strength of political, social and
cultural rights, and is the express profound thanks and appreciation
for our children in the brave troops valiant armed to the many
sacrifices Ajtrahoha over the past six years and are faced with
terrorism and the remnants of the dark and uncontrolled gangs, which
have been entertained of evil and hatred of the sons of this country
and continue to plant explosive Mfajkhat death and destruction in Iraqi
cities, to take every day dozens or even hundreds of innocent victims.

The statement noted that the new circumstances in which we live today
has the additional responsibility of all political and social forces,
especially those affecting the masses and the institutions of state and
government and parliament, in order to turn the page on a bad
relationship between them ruled over the years, Page and sensitivities
and a lack of mutual trust accounts partisan and sectarian narrow,
ethnic, and rise to the level of the major responsibilities to protect
the security of citizens and their lives and provide for decent human
living with them, and prepare to assume full responsibility
and Meseralarac for the future, Iraq is free from the terms of Chapter
VII of the Charter of the United Nations and the resolutions of the
Security Council unjust, caused by the adventures and wars of the
dictatorial regime Alambad.

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