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Iraq
Iraqi forces don't need no stinking foreign support -- Karbala governor
2008-08-20
The governor of Karbala said on Tuesday that Iraqi forces proved their efficiency after the success realized during the security plan implemented during al-Ziyara al-Shaabaniya, proving they do not require foreign support, the governor of Karbala said.

During a ceremony to honor a number of security officers, who contributed in implementing the security plan during al-Ziyara, Uqeil al-Khazaali praised the "success realized by Iraqi forces during the Shiite occasion."

"This proves that Iraqi forces do not need any foreign support, except the air force, and this will be covered in the future," he added.
Or maybe logistics, pay, artillery, heavy armour, and real fighters if the opposition fights back and/or our boys refuse to fight.
Karbala, with an estimated population of 572,300 people in 2003, is the capital of the province and is considered to be one of Shiite Muslims' holiest cities. At the centre of the old city is Masjid al-Hussein, the tomb of Hussein Ibn Ali, grandsone of the Prophet Muhammad by his daughter Fatima al-Zahraa and Ali Ibn Abi Taleb. Imam Hussien's tomb is a place of pilgrimage for many Shiite Muslims, especially on the anniversary of the battle, the Day of Ashuraa. Many elderly pilgrims travel there to await death, as they believe the tomb to be one of the gates to paradise. On April 14, 2007, a car bomb exploded about 600 ft (200 m) from the shrine, killing 47 and wounding over 150.
Just a loud sendoff and a little boost to their trip to Paradise.
Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC

#5  A: This can be interpreted in two ways, one is resentfulness

Actually, I think it's resentment at our getting in the way of the ending of elections in Iraq. My prediction is that if GI's aren't in Iraq, the government will revert to dictatorship in a matter of years, much as postwar Germany or Japan would have.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2008-08-20 15:12  

#4  This can be interpreted in two ways, one is resentfulness, and the other is pride in their soldiers.

I suspect the latter, because he accurately points out that the Iraqis still have some gaping holes in their defenses, which both indicates that he is a realist, and can distinguish real problems from fantasies.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2008-08-20 13:57  

#3  This clown may just be a blowhard politician, but in this case, I do like the attitude. If Iraq is to cut the apron strings and stand up as an independent country, they need this attitude.
Posted by: Slats Glans2659   2008-08-20 13:53  

#2  We've been able to bring many of the troops home to rest and recover before three brigades go off to Afghanistan because the Iraqi forces have stood up as well as they have. Yes, they still need support, but they've mostly fought well, based on the articles and commentary I've read here, and their counterinsurgency effort seems to be progressing nicely. A little national pride does no harm, especially from a provincial governor who has no say in domestic and foreign troop deployment anyway.
Posted by: trailing wife    2008-08-20 13:33  

#1  Politicians are all the same.
Posted by: tipover   2008-08-20 13:23  

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