Bush tells Talabani US firm on Iraq aid

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Thursday assured Iraqi President Jalal Talabani that he is "fully committed" to aiding the Iraqi government and dispatched a top aide to Baghdad to help leaders there make good on their promises.

Talabani, whose visit to the United States has included medical treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., looked hearty as he sat in the Oval Office and defended his country's progress.

"I told the president that I'm fully committed to helping the Iraqi government achieve important objectives," Bush said.

"We call them benchmarks â?? political law necessary to show the Iraqi citizens that there is a unified government willing to work on the interest of all people," Bush said.

Bush signed a war spending bill last week that threatens to withhold U.S. aid dollars for Iraq if Baghdad fails to make progress on political and security reforms. The legislation does let the president waive that restriction. To strike a deal with Congress, the White House allowed benchmarks to be included after initially insisting on a clean spending bill.

As daily violence continues to shake Iraq, the two presidents acknowledged Iraq's security troubles. Yet they spoke optimistically about Iraq's ability to make progress on key fronts.

Those include passing legislation to share oil revenue among all Iraqis, holding local elections, overhauling de-Baathification laws and fairly amending the country's constitution.

With patience in the United States eroding, Bush plans to send an emissary to help.

Meghan O'Sullivan, who recently announced she is resigning as deputy national security adviser, will work with U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker in helping Iraq's leaders in Baghdad.

She had been the day-to-day coordinator for Iraq at the National Security Council, where she remains through the transition to Bush's newly announced war czar, Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute.

Talabani said Iraq remains committed to gradually taking control of its own country â?? allowing U.S. troops to leave â?? after Iraqi forces are fully trained.

There was no mention of when that would happen. The two leaders took no questions.

Talabani made clear his thanks to the American people.

"I don't deny difficulties, I don't deny shortcomings," Talabani said of his country. "I don't deny that still we are suffering from some problems. But we are determined to (meet) benchmarks, and we are determined to move forward and to achieve."

Talabani last visited the White House in September 2005.

At the time, he said he hoped "by the end of 2006 our security forces are up to the level of taking responsibility from many American troops."

A top U.S. commander said Thursday that the U.S. military is working more aggressively to forge cease-fires with Iraqi militants. Yet Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno also warned he may not be able to fully assess the situation in Iraq by September, as lawmakers demand.
Bush tells Talabani US firm on Iraq aid - Yahoo! News

With 7 of 18 provinces under total Iraqi control right now it's just a matter of time........then we can get to that new embassy and bask in the pool.:thumbsup:

Have a good one!:s4:

Keep dreaming P4B.Its not going to get stable there till u guys leave.

Another thing it took 400 000 british soldiars to control Iraq after ww1 and Iraq had a population of 2 million at the time soo good luck.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fishman3811

Keep dreaming P4B.Its not going to get stable there till u guys leave.

---

7 out of 18 and ya can't even give a thumbs up........LOL! Sorry if my glass is half-full but I'm just an optimist.

When it's all good and our people are having fun in the sun in that pool what will ya say then?

Have a good one!:s4:

Then ill come visit your mansion and have a few drinks by the pool..

I don't deny difficulties, I don't deny shortcomings," Talabani said of his country. "I don't deny that still we are suffering from some problems. But we are determined to (meet) benchmarks, and we are determined to move forward and to achieve."

Hey, P4B, is this before or after their 2 month vacation while our troops are dying for their freedom, what a load of crap!

The floor plans for that place are available online! Go find the fastest way to the pool and beat everyone else there!!! I think I would be scared if the president said anything less then "fully committed". We broke it now atleast we are still committed to fixing it.. somewhat.. kinda.. So if we send them financial aid would that be helping those who talk to the enemy?


P4B Have you seen this article:

Iraqi President Open to Insurgent Talks

ABC News learned Thursday from sources that coalition officials have been conducting secret, face-to-face talks with insurgent groups. These radicals have demanded jobs and amnesty in exchange for peace....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zimzum

The floor plans for that place are available online! Go find the fastest way to the pool and beat everyone else there!!! I think I would be scared if the president said anything less then "fully committed". We broke it now atleast we are still committed to fixing it.. somewhat.. kinda.. So if we send them financial aid would that be helping those who talk to the enemy?


P4B Have you seen this article:

Iraqi President Open to Insurgent Talks

ABC News learned Thursday from sources that coalition officials have been conducting secret, face-to-face talks with insurgent groups. These radicals have demanded jobs and amnesty in exchange for peace....

---

After WW2 how many Nazi's were punished for war crimes? Except the Top all the Worker bees get to go Free and start crap later.

Worker bees are nothing untell they find eachother and form new Colonys. This is how Bush can make shure it's a long war. Go around Bashing Nests and killing Queen's and pissing off all the Other Bee's then when he can wash his hands as DONE, he will and what he leaves behind is going to explode.

The reason why they hate the U.S. now is because of Israel Suport and the U.S. has been messing with there country's and there Oil for the last 100+ years.

So with the History the U.S. has had with these area's and all that Bush is Stiring up now. This is not going to be any better of a Future.

There going to be more mad and have more good reason.

lol im in no way a supporter of war or BushCo. That dude opened up a pandora's box and clinging on to hope. We're damed if we do or don't now.. but killing for peace is like spitting in front of you on a motorcycle, it just comes right back at you:mad:. If we didn't need there oil we would be at peace. So the best support we can give the real Iraqis would be to go cold turkey with the oil. Boycott buying gas for a week or something like that.

With 7 of 18 provinces under total Iraqi control right now it's just a matter of time........then we can get to that new embassy and bask in the pool.
And then you woke up. ~LOL~

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by medicinal

And then you woke up. ~LOL~

---

I'll be expecting you to buy first round on suntan lotion.......LOL:thumbsup:

Have a good one!:s4:

Dont forget me ill bring the peace pipe