ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> <title>OnlineColumnist®.com: Putin Punishes Georgia</title> <meta name="generator" content="Adobe GoLive 4"> <style type="text/css"> .style2 { font-size: large; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; } .style3 { height: 69px; } .style4 { font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; } </style> </head> <body bgcolor="white" vlink="black"> <center> <table cool width="624" height="2719" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" gridx="16" showgridx gridy="16" showgridy> <tr height="79"> <td width="133" height="118" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="110" width="62" src="images/discobolos.logo.transp.gif" border="0"></a></td> <td width="7" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="482" height="79" colspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="140"><img height="75" width="450" src="images/banner.GIF"></td> <td width="1" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="79"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="79"></td> </tr> <tr height="39"> <td width="182" height="39"></td> <td width="300" height="39" valign="top" align="left" xpos="322"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="14" width="267" src="images/divisionofNEW.GIF" border="0"></a></td> <td width="1" height="39"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="39"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="624" colspan="6" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style3"> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#99ffcc" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td align="center"> <div align="left"> <a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> HOME</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> &#8226; <a href="articlesindex.html">ARTICLES</a> &#8226; <a href="books.html">BOOKS</a> &#8226; <a href="teflon.html"> THE </a><a href="teflon.html">TEFLON</a><a href="teflon.html"> REPORT</a> &#8226; <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com"> REACTIONS</a> &#8226; <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">ABOUT DISCOBOLOS</a></strong></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr height="2"> <td width="133" height="2">&nbsp;</td> <td width="489" height="2576" colspan="3" rowspan="2" align="left" xpos="133" content valign="top" csheight="2573"> <p class="style2">Iraq&#39;s Timetable</p> <p><b><font face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica">by John M. Curtis</font></b><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b><a href="books.html"><br> </a></b></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b> (310) 204-8700</b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><i>Copyright October 8, 2008<br>All Rights Reserved. </i></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="style4">B</span>lasting Democratic Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il.) in the second president debate Oct. 7 at Belmont College in Nashvillie, Tenn. for urging timetables, GOP nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) promised to leave Iraq  with honor and victory on his terms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Only one small problem:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>The Pentagon can t finish a new security deal with Iraq.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>On Dec. 31, the old security agreement expires, giving the U.S. no legal right in Iraq.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>McCain has staked his credibility on insisting the U.S. will leave Iraq on its own terms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>McCain can t define victory but he blames Barack for waving the white flag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Iraqis won t sign a deal granting McCain s wishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>They insist on an agreement in which they can (a) prosecute U.S. soldiers for crimes against Iraqis and (b) establish a date-certain for withdrawal no later than 2011 a date roughly matching Barack s timetable.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>While last night s debate caused a collective yawn, the contrast between McCain and Obama could not be more glaring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>McCain wants to balance the budget by slashing needed social programs, something he calls  pork-barrel projects. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>McCain stressed there would be no cuts in the Pentagon s treasury-breaking budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Obama, on the other hand, wants to end the Iraq War and save taxpayers $10 billion a month, a conservative estimate believed more like $12-15 billion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Despite opposing Bush s past tax cuts, McCain now wants new cuts totaling an additional $300 billion, yet the budget is just supposed to balance itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>McCain offers no explanation how he expects to pay for the lost revenue other than the old Supply Side theory that says tax cuts equal a booming economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Obama points to the last eight years as proof of how McCain s plan is doomed to failure.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Iraq Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zabari signaled that both sides were close to a deal on a new security arrangement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> There is a mutual desire to sign the agreement because it s necessary for Iraq s development to safeguard oil resources, to enable Iraq forces to handle security and to complete national independence, President Jalal Talabani told state TV Oct. 7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Talabani couldn t have confirmed America s worst fears that preserving Iraq s oil wealth was at the heart of the Iraq War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Since Cruise missile first hit Baghdad March 20, 2003, the White House denied that the war was about oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Vice President Dick Cheney refused to reveal what was supposed to be public records of his 2001 Energy Task Force, where he met with the heads of ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, British Petroleum, etc. to carve out a U.S. energy plan.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Without seeing Cheney s secret minutes, the only logical explanation involves a promise to oil executives for cheap Iraqi oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Despite racking up an $80 billion surplus while the U.S. runs a $500 billion deficit, Iraqis insist the U.S. must shoulder the entire financial burden in Iraq.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Talabani echoes the same empty promises about the Iraqi military stepping up on its own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When President George W. Bush descended May 1, 2003 onto the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln in F-36B jump-jet in a flight-suit declaring  mission accomplished, he promised that the Iraqi military would eventually replace U.S. troops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Six years later Talabani talks about the Iraq s forces handling security someday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki quibbles over a new security agreement, the U.S. continues to lose precious lives and spend countless billions with no end in sight.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Despite Iraqis pleading with the U.S. to set a deadline for withdrawal, McCain insists it must be on U.S. terms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> The Americans show no interest in committing themselves to any deadline or timetable and they thin that such process depends on the situation on the ground, said Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Othman echoes sentiments of the vast majority of Iraqis wanting the U.S. out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, presumed living in Tehran, whose political bloc controls 30 seats in Parliament, opposes any agreement that does not specify a date-certain for U.S. withdrawal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Al-Maliki walks as dangerous tightrope placating al-Sadr and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, whose endorsements would legitimize any security deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Without a security deal, the U.S. will operate in Iraq illegally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Sunnis, Kurds and al-Maliki s Shiite Dawa party all want the U.S. out.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Since the U.S. financial meltdown, Iraq has been on the backburner of a fiercely contested presidential race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Obama connected the dots in last night s debate, describing how the war s costs have damaged the U.S. economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>There s no denying that the U.S. can no longer afford a blank check in Iraq.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Either Iraq begins paying for U.S. security or a timetable for withdrawal must be set.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>McCain can t ignore Iraq s calls for the U.S. to set a date-certain for withdrawal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It s not raising a white flag when Iraqis don t want the U.S. help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>McCain refuses to consider the U.S. military can t impose a political solution or prepare Iraq s new army and security forces to defend the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>With British commander in Afghanistan Mark Carleton-Smith saying the war is not winnable, the U.S. must reinforce troop strength or risk failure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Getting bogged down in Iraq hasn t helped the U.S. succeed in Afghanistan.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> &nbsp;<bAbout the Author</u><b>John M. Curtis</b> writes politically neutral commentary analyxing spin in national and global news.&nbsp; He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of <i><a href="books.html">Dodging The Bullet</a> </i>and <i><a href="books.html"> Operation Charisma</a></i>.</p> </td> <td width="1" height="2576" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="2"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="2574"> <td width="133" height="2574" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><img height="172" width="111" src="images/johninframe3.jpg"></td> <td width="1" height="2574"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2574"></td> </tr> <tr height="1" cntrlrow> <td width="133" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="133" height="1"></td> <td width="7" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="7" height="1"></td> <td width="182" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="182" height="1"></td> <td width="300" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="300" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="597"> <tr> <td><font size="1" face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica"> <hr noshade size="1"> </font><a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> Home</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> || <a href="articlesindex.html">Articles</a> || <a href="books.html">Books</a> || <a href="teflon.html">The Teflon Report</a> || <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com"> Reactions</a> || <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">About Discobolos</a></strong></font> <div align="left"> <p><font size="1" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">This site designed, developed and hosted by the experts at</font><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"> <a href="http://www.cmeonline.net" target="_blank"><img height="30" width="138" src="images/cmelogoANIM.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></a></font></p> </div> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">©1999-2005 <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"> Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.</a><br> (310) 204-8300<br> All Rights Reserved. </font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>