June 23, 2006
[Baghdad][1]:_THE Iraqi Government will announce a sweeping peace plan as early as Sunday in a last-ditch effort to end the Sunni insurgency that has taken the country to the brink of civil war.The 28-point package for national reconciliation will offer Iraqi resistance groups inclusion in the political process and an amnesty for their prisoners if they renounce violence and lay down their arms, The Times can reveal.The Government will promise a finite, UN-approved timeline for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq; a halt to US operations against insurgent strongholds; an end to human rights violations, including those by coalition troops; and compensation for victims of attacks by terrorists or Iraqi and coalition forces._[Washington][2]:_The Senate on Thursday roundly rejected two Democratic proposals to begin pulling troops out of Iraq, as Republicans and Democrats staked out starkly different positions heading into Congressional elections this fall._*The Democrats' first amendment, sponsored by Senators John Kerry of Massachusetts and Russell D. Feingold of Wisconsin, would have required all combat troops be pulled out by July 2007. The senators argued that only a firm timetable would prod the Iraqis to take control of their own country.*"Future generations of Americans will look back upon this very moment to determine how two branches of our government, the legislative and the executive, today stand side by side, honoring those who've given their lives," said Mr. Warner, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.*Republicans portrayed Iraq as the center of the war on terrorism, and said pulling out any troops would leave a void that would be filled by insurgents and terrorists. The Republican leader, Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, called any troop withdrawal "dangerous, reckless and shameless." "Withdrawal is not an option," Mr. Frist said. "Surrender is not a solution."* [Baghdad][1]:_Mr Khalilzad recently told The Times that reconciliation required "a comprehensive strategy that has political elements, that has security elements, and that has reintegration elements in it: decommissioning, demobilisation, and reintegration of these forces."__The draft marks the first time the Iraqi Government has endorsed a fixed timeline for the withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq, a key demand of the Sunni insurgency. _ [1]: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-2239088,00.html [2]: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/23/washington/23cong.html
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Shelby (anonymous) says...
I thought this blog was going to be about the Garfield sequel.
June 23, 2006 at 12:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lazz (anonymous) says...
Now that we have this experience with setting up provisional governments and prosecuting dictators, p'haps we can invade Washington next.
June 23, 2006 at 2:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )