Colin L. Powell and Paul Bremer hinted that the US might leave Iraq.

© BBC

Colin Powell made that statement while attending a meeting of the Group of Eight (G8) foreign ministers. Paul Bremer echoed the possibility soon after, according to News.com.au.

Britain, Italy and Japan also made the same declaration as reported by The Autralian early this morning.

It is the first time American officials consider - even remotely - the possibility of withdrawing their troops. It is also the first time the US acknowledges the fact Iraqis might want them to leave.

This change in US foreign policy comes two days after Donald Rumsfeld said the mission in Iraq could fail. Furthemore, military forces and officials are desperately trying to cope with the Iraqi prisoners torture scandal at Abu Ghraib prison.

A bold move

Whatever views one might have on the US occupation in Iraq, one must admit the US is making a very bold attempt at trying to salvage the situation.

- Bush is known for his resolve (ie WMDs in Iraq). It takes balls to admit that a year of war, 10 years of preparation (UN sanctions, WMD claims, and so on) and the biggest oil and natural gas reserves in the world are not worth it.

- This does look like a desperate move as Bush hit a new low in polls (New York Times. In an election year, domestic population approval is not something a president can do without. But whatever is done (leave Iraq or stay in the country), it might not be enough for Bush to be re-elected. On that point, the comparison with George Bush - the father - cannot be avoided.

- Does the US really care about the Iraqi people? Probably not, even if "80% in Iraq Distrust Occupation Authority". What does matter though is the growing anti-American feeling in all the Arab countries. Three years after September 11th, it is getting harder and harder to manipulate public opinion by accusing terrorists for everything that is going wrong. And one question comes to mind: where the f... is Bin Laden and why hasn't he been captured yet?

Related news on Miss-Information.net:
One law in Iraq: retaliation
Iraqis' revenge: the beheading of Nicholas Berg
Why is Lynndie England causing such a stir?

Related news from around the world:
Al-Jazeera (Qatar): G8 demands real Iraqi sovereignty
New York Times (US): Powell Says U.S. Will Withdraw Troops From Iraq if New Government Makes Request
FOX News (US): Bremer Unplugged: We'll Leave Iraq if Asked
The Globe and Mail (Canada): Powell: Troops would leave Iraq should Iraqis ask
ABC Online (Australia): Coalition unlikely to get withdrawal request: ADA
News24 (South Africa): US would leave if asked
Sify (India): US, UK to pull out troops if Iraq asks
Radio Free Europe (Czech Republic): Freed Iraqi Prisoners Allege Abuse By US Captors
Channel News Asia: Allegations mount of US cover-up of Iraqi prisoner abuse
Financial Times (UK): US and G8 allies clash on Iraq handover

Related news on other blogs:
Sisyphus Shrugged: and I leave you with...
Outside the Beltway: Bad Signs For Bush
Mark A. R. Kleiman: Did we just lose the war?
De tout et de riens: Un beau leurre...

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