Maliki Blinks First: No Longer Ruling Out US Staying Past 2011

PM Insists Iraqis Will Engage in 'Consultation' on Continued Presence

It was just weeks ago that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki absolutely ruled out the continued US presence in his nation beyond December. At the time, Maliki said Iraq didn’t need the troops anymore. In the wake of the comments, the US continued to press for “an answer,” ignoring what seemed to be a pretty clear one.

It seems this strategy has worked and that Maliki has backed off his previous comments. Now, the Iraqi PM insists he will not make any decision, but will engage in “consultation” with other ruling parties until a consensus is reached.

Such a consensus is likely to be virtually impossible. The Kurdistan blocs have been supportive to the continued occupation more or less unconditionally, while the Iraqi National Alliance’s leading Sadrist faction has ruled it out entirely, with Sadr openly threatening armed resistance if the US attempts to stay.

US officials have repeatedly insisted that it is vital they remain in the nation in 2012 and beyond. Defense Secretary Robert Gates suggested the US might remain basically forever.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.