Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki today condemned the release of 400,000 Iraq War related files, claiming it was part of a WikiLeaks plot to “sabotage” his chances for a second term in office.
The documents revealed widespread prisoner abuse among Iraqi security forces, spanning a period that included most of Maliki’s first term in office. The documents also showed that US troops were officially ordered to ignore evidence of torture by Iraqi forces.
The Iraqiya bloc, Maliki’s primary opposition in attempting to form a new government, insisted that the leaks showed the danger of entrusting total executive power to Maliki and said it warranted a “power-sharing” arrangement. It should be mentioned, of course, that abuse during Iraqiya leader Ayad Allawi’s term in office was also covered by the documents.
Iraq’s third bloc was also eager to make their opinions known. Baha Araji, one of the top members of Moqtada al-Sadr’s bloc insisted that he didn’t think the leaks would harm Maliki’s chances because “this issue is not new in Iraq.” He also insisted his bloc has been pressing Maliki on the matter, and had presented him with evidence of torture earlier during government talks.
