Bush: “When the Iraqi Army stands up, we’ll stand down.”

Maliki Stresses Urgency In Arming Iraqi Forces

The Iraqi government's need for American troops would "dramatically go down" in three to six months if the United States accelerated the process of equipping and arming Iraq's security forces, Prime Minister Maliki said Wednesday.

Maliki disputed President Bush's remarks broadcast Tuesday that the execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein "looked like it was kind of a revenge killing" and took exception to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's Senate testimony last week that Maliki's administration was on "borrowed time."

The prime minister said statements such as Rice's "give morale boosts for the terrorists and push them toward making an extra effort and making them believe they have defeated the American administration," Maliki said. "But I can tell you that they have not defeated the Iraqi government."

At a time when Bush has committed an additional 21,500 troops to the fight in Iraq, Maliki went further than he has before in establishing a time frame for drawing down the U.S. presence.

"If we succeed in implementing the agreement between us to speed up the equipping and providing weapons to our military forces, I think that within three to six months our need for the American troops will dramatically go down. That's on the condition that there are real strong efforts to support our military forces and equipping them and arming them," Maliki said.

In the interview Wednesday, Maliki said many American and Iraqi lives would have been spared if the Iraqi forces had been better equipped.

Maliki spoke slowly and seriously for most of the conversation, but occasionally broke into a smile, such as when he was asked whether Bush needs him more than he needs Bush. "This is an evil question," he said, laughing.


I am beginning to lose interest in this whole game these two asshats seem to be playing with each other. It is so blatantly obvious that we are not in this war to win it, but to prolong it. And apparently Maliki is fine with that, at least until we start insulting his strength as a leader.

In order to prolong this war, Bush has had to shift the blame onto the Iraqi government and Maliki. Maliki, like any leader when challenged, is now rising up, calling a spade a spade and in turn, trying to embarrass Bush.

Does that last line not just give you the shivers?

“When he was asked whether Bush needs him more than he needs Bush. "This is an evil question," he said, laughing.”

Two observations:

1. The Iraqi government thinks Bush is as useless a tool as America does.

2. All the players are aware that this “war” isn’t really a war at all. It is an evil exercise in which two countries are trying to further their own agenda of power. We use them, they use us, everybody’s happy. Aren’t you happy?

So, Maliki is going to taunt the leader who is trying to “save” him. We all know how Bush’s personality defects respond to belittlement. Can you see what’s happening here?

We blame them for the cluster that is this war because let’s face it, we can’t tell the truth about it. They, in return, tell the truth about it. We point the finger at them, they narc us out. My God, what a razor’s edge Bush is walking on.

Bottom line is, we won’t arm the Iraqi army because we don’t WANT them to stand up. We haven’t achieved our goals in the Middle East yet. And until we have, we can’t afford for it to appear that Iraq doesn’t need us. But time and ego is running out.

I predict that Iraq will grow weary of having it’s manliness impugned by the likes of a dolt like Bush. I predict that Maliki will stop playing the game, stand up, and tell Bush that his country no longer needs us or wishes our occupation of their country. I believe this will happen before Bush is ready to leave Iraq. This will totally screw with Bush’s program.

I have no idea what Bush will do about it. Chances are he’ll take the easy way out and never equip the Iraqi army so it can take care of itself. Or perhaps something a little more evil, like stirring up another little war with Iraq’s neighbors. My money is on the evil option.

So people, if you ever want to train someone to do something, just don’t give them the tools they need to become fully independent of you. You’ll never be out of a job…

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