"...all in the name of oil. " Misery

Can anyone please explain to me how much oil the west has stolen? If it has been, why I am I paying so much for petrol.

If you repeat a lie enough times it becomes the truth eh Misery?

Richard, Jersey,

Misery Tronto I agree...if USA really cares about bringing peace to the world ...(which I pretty much doubt) it could start with it self.

Plus I don't understand why the UK alwyas has to side with the USA... BROWN Bring our boys back ...this was never our fight!!!

Stephanie, Bedfordshire, UK

Let us hope that Mr al-Miliki is right in his belief that Iraq is now stable enough to be left alone. But will the sectarian attacks stop after the withdrawal of British troops? As is often stated, "what concern is it of the West?" Surely the Iraqi's are civilised enough to unite peacefully?!

Mr Robertson, Several, Many

Was it all worth it ?. The cost in lives and misery , the cost to the country in hard cash and the cost to our reputation in the withdrawal from BASRA.

Personally I would like to see a Military Board of Enquiry sit to examine our deployment in detail and acknowledge the lessons learned.

Digby James, Windsor , Berks

We can't afford to stay there any longer. The banking bailout means money has to be saved somewhere. Iraq is top of my list of total wastes of taxpayers money.

Cameo, Berkhamsted, uk

And we should be right on your heels. Enough. We have an economy to repair.

Jim P, Sacramento, California

Great bring them home .

oliver, colchester,

Whats the big deal about Iraq's "evil" deeds back when it was a major power in the ME?It did what all major powers past,present & future have done,currently do & will do in the future.Only difference is the West always thinks its right & varnishes it up as "high morals" which we know are hollow.

Steve, Toronto, Canada

Considering that we only have enough troops there for self-defence rather than any meaningful operations its about time. It was really pointless to leave that many troops there when we withdrew a lot of our men. Political gesturing doesn't make military sense.

Russell, Leeds,

"Mr al-Maliki also criticised a secret deal made last year by Britain with the al-Mahdi Army"

As he pointed, it is better for British troops to withdraw all troops right away!

What is the use of such a double crossing and double dealing force?

So time for Britain to withdraw honorably now

R K Mani , Mumbai, India

Only way out of this is to end oil dependency soon - which is possible, but only via efforts of global scientists who are not beholden to powerful governments. And none have this status.

Religiosity and stupid wars mean nothing except misery and suffering. I'm glad I'm old.

monica, guildford, uk

Good lets go. Think of the money that will be saved, can then be used to save banks and pay multi million bonuses of city ceo's for losing money.

alan, london, uk

Our forces promised that when asked to leave by the Iraqi Prime Minister they would do so. Dragging their heels now would look like they are untrustworthy and that will worsen Britain’s relationship with Iraq. Gordon Brown MUST take notice and ensure that ALL our combat troops are withdrawn by the end of December.

Peter Dewar-Finch, York, United Kingdom

Misery Toronto, fortunately your soldiers, particularly snipers are a bit more on the ball than you. However, now the government we helped to put in place say they dont want us in their country any more it is definately time to go.

mike gee, bournemouth, uk

it is time to PEACE not WAR, Where is European SCIENTIST to advise peace not war?
Iraq was supported against Iran. WEST gave biological weapon to SADDAM to kill Kurds. Saddam was a good hired killer for WEST.
European Scientist should find peaceful SOLUTION for HUMANKIND not best weapon for ARMY

Hakan, istanbul, TR

Great! Let's go!

Jessica, Reading, UK

Misery, Canada

Your "modern advanced country" of Iraq:

Invaded Iran and Kuwait
Fired missiles at Israel and Saudi Arabia
Used WMD (chemical & biological) on its own people
Funded terrorist groups
Tried to develop nuclear weapons
Is it a selective or short memory that you have?

Guy, London, UK

I welcome the comments made by Mr al-Maliki, but until the Whitehouse tells number 10 we can leave, we will have to stay.

Clive, Dartford, Kent

UK Ambassador said:
"It will be good to move out of the artificial relationship in which military aspects had prominence and into a more natural partnership."
What's artificial about laying lives on the line for Iraqi development? Here we go again, spitting on the military when our job is done.

DLL, London,

"I'm sure the great majority in Britain agree completely with Prime Minister al-Maliki's views: yes, "we" should go home.
...By the way, does this also apply to all the Iraqis here? "

Brian Clacey, Croydon, UK

We have no homes to go to, they've been bombed.

al no homie iraqi, london / baghdad, uk / iraq

Now do we get an inquiry? Probably not.

Peter Donson, Southwell, Notts, UK

I can't believe "Howard's" comment. The fact is Iraq has a leader they voted for now and not a dictator who killed hundreds of thousands of his own people!. The only problem with the country now is the power hungry "religious" leaders who want to control it

John, Salford, England

Invador asked to leave peacefully, instead of being kicked out? Merciful Mr. Maliki.
To Doug Beaton - yes Britons are brave people and army, but they was everywhere used by US and Brit gov for non-honorable things.

Andy, Kuwait,

I'm sure the great majority in Britain agree completely with Prime Minister al-Maliki's views: yes, "we" should go home.
...By the way, does this also apply to all the Iraqis here?

Brian Clacey, Croydon, UK

Basra, like Belfast, proved that our forces were not up to the job. What the British army's leaders did in Basra had also been tried - in the "no-go" areas - and failed in Belfast. Our army top brass, it seems, are slow learners. We should also be out of Afghanistan asap as this has become a US war.

Dr David Green, Athens, Greece

There is nothing ungrateful about the Iraq statement, in fact he went as far as thanking the British. All he was pointing out is that the mission has been succesfull & the Iraqies are at a point where they can now look after themselves.
I look at this as a job done well by the British army!

Pete, St Albans, England

Good. We should never have joined America in the destruction of Iraq, but if 'our' Iraqi government says we are no longer needed can we please do as we are asked and bring the army home, and save lives, injuries and money. We now need to husband our resources and not waste them in the desert.

C Smith, Norwich,

Well..pessimish aside, if he's serious, the time to build economic ties and trade has come. For the mutual prosperity of the two people.

Kazuki, Tokyo, Japan

when a 'guest' asks you to leave it is only polite to leave

Mike, Sole Street, England

Hey Misery in Toronto, is that the same modern advanced country that invaded Iran and Kuwait and used chemical weapons against the Kurds.

Iraq has been a *&^£ing nuisance in the Middle East for the past 40 years and still is today.

David, Dubai, UAE

If the ungrateful Iraqi government thinks the British should leave then we should get out tomorrow and leave the sects to kill each other without being caught in the middle.

Iraq was never worth one British soldier's life - now or ever.

David, Dubai, UAE

"The Iraqi arena is open for British companies and British friendship, for economic exchange and positive cooperation in science and education.”

Another words, the West finally has their puppet in charge of a Middle East country.

Howard, Manchester,

We all agree! Enough said!

Rod Garr, Miami, USA

Time for our troops to leave and get some well earned r+r. This war has cost us enough in lives and money, neither of which we can afford to lose.

Kevin, Salisbury, UK

Mr al-Maliki, it's called standing on your own two feet, prove you can do it and we will gratefully leave, no British man and woman wants us to be there - albeit the arms and reconstruction industries. Showing you can and want to defend your own people is a god send not an offence.

Lee Owen, Bucharest, Romania

British troops are the finest on the planet, and when they are allowed to fight, acquit themselves with great honor. Maliki has reason to be angry, but not with them. It was the appeasement first politicians who made the deals with the thugs in Basra, and again in Afghanistan with the Taliban.

Doug Beaton, Sanford, USA

Iraq used to be a modern advanced country till the US along with Britain invaded it bombed it to the ground and hanged its leader all in the name of oil.

And for the previous 10 years prior to the invasion had bombed it continuously in order to subdue it ready for take over.

Need I say more.

Misery, Toronto, Canada