Iraq and US agree to withdraw troops by end of 2008? - Updated

By: D. H. Williams @ 7:43 PM - EST

According to the Kuwait News Agency Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi has discussed the possibility of a troop withdrawal by the end of 2008 with the U.S. State Dept.

At an Iraqi Presidential Council meeting held at the residence of Iraqi President Jala Talabani last Saturday. Where U. S. Secretary of State Assistant John Negroponte was in attendance the two reportedly discussed a draft agreement in which the US troop presence would end before 2009.

The Iraqi government mandate of a US security presence with expire by the end of this year.

Editor’s Note: It hardly seems likely that the neocons and global banking cartel would allow a troop withdrawl by the end of 2008 given the investment in permenant military and political infastructure in Iraq, such as the US Embassy nicknamed the “American Fortress” costing over $1 billion.

Updated: Tuesday @ 11:11 PM - EST

Following up on the meeting between the Iraqi President, his staff and Assistant Secretary John Negroponte concerning the “troop withdrawal.”

We now have confirmation the meeting did take place and included iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, if that really makes much difference. US officials have been picking and choosing Iraqi officials at will.

“There have been new ideas and new language that could be acceptable, but no final decision has been made. This needs some bold political decisions now,” Zebari told reporters in Baghdad’s highly-fortified Green Zone.

The high level discussions centered around Status of Forces Agreement which is to expire on December 31st.  From the language coming out of officail Iraqi and US sources the main purpose of the meetings were to discuss the terms for an extension of US troop presence after 2008.

Thus the Rumor Mill status of the post.

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