Iraqi Leaders Call for Pullout Timetable

via the Guardian:

Leaders of Iraq's sharply divided Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis called Monday for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces in the country and said Iraq's opposition had a "legitimate right'' of resistance.

The final communique, hammered out at the end of three days of negotiations at a preparatory reconciliation conference under the auspices of the Arab League, condemned terrorism, but was a clear acknowledgment of the Sunni position that insurgents should not be labeled as terrorists if their operations do not target innocent civilians or institutions designed to provide for the welfare of Iraqi citizens.

The participants in Cairo agreed on "calling for the withdrawal of foreign troops according to a timetable, through putting in place an immediate national program to rebuild the armed forces ... control the borders and the security situation'' and end terror attacks.

The conference was attended by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Shiite and Kurdish lawmakers, as well as leading Sunni politicians.
...
In Egypt, the final communique's attempt to define terrorism omitted any reference to attacks against U.S. or Iraqi forces. Delegates from across the political and religious spectrum said the omission was intentional. They spoke anonymously, saying they feared retribution.

"Though resistance is a legitimate right for all people, terrorism does not represent resistance. Therefore, we condemn terrorism and acts of violence, killing and kidnapping targeting Iraqi citizens and humanitarian, civil, government institutions, national resources and houses of worships,'' the document said.

The final communique also stressed participants' commitment to Iraq's unity and called for the release of all "innocent detainees'' who have not been convicted by courts. It asked that allegations of torture against prisoners be investigated and those responsible be held accountable.

The statement also demanded "an immediate end to arbitrary raids and arrests without a documented judicial order.''

This is huge. As Aravosis points out, the Iraqi's certainly seem to be in favor of the Murtha position. Which puts our petroleum-drunk leaders in a bit of a logical pickle. If our goal in Iraq is to disarm Saddam bring democracy to the Iraqis, and the democratically elected leaders want our asses out, how are they going to justify ignoring the will of said leaders? And how do we explain our "law unto ourselves" view of our right to shoot to kill, bomb cities, imprison, torture, etc. when the government we installed wants us to submit to the rule of law and supports the right of the insurgents to try to expel us?

Bad puppet. Bad, bad puppet.

And it isn't just the foreign press covering this -- lots of U.S. media coverage as well.

The Iraqis have spoken, and their leaders have listened. The American people have spoken, and our leaders are telling us to go Cheney ourselves.

Update: Just took a quick stroll through LGF, the Corner, and Instapundit. And what do you know, this story does not exist.