In a statement issued today after a call with Vice President Joe Biden, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki insisted that the decision on whether or not to allow the US occupation of Iraq to continue beyond December is entirely up to parliament.
US officials have repeatedly demanded Iraq approve a continuation of the American presence, with some suggesting it could last for years. The Sadrist Trend, one of the key factions in the parliament, has opposed any residual force.
Iraqi MP Ali al-Tamimy (Sadrist Trend) also made comments today accusing the Kurdistan Regional Government and its ruling coalition parties of having entered into a secret deal to allow US troops to remain in Kirkuk after the December deadline.
The 2008 vote cementing the Status of Forces Agreement through December 2011 only passed with the support of Sadrists and others based on a promised referendum which was never held. A new vote seems likely to be extremely difficult.
Divide and conquer….. Bribe the few and take the resources of the many … How original…… Will Kurdistan B the new Israel…??? Get ready….errr, well if the ambitious empire doesn't collapse financially. E.G. Fifteen or more Swiss Franks for a dollar…… Parity with the Mexican peso…!!
HAHAHA somehow I KNEW Maliki was going to run for cover when the heat gets turned up- he's insisting that it's all up to Parliament, knowing full well that Sadr is playing his hand for all it's worth, and when Parliament decides the US must go, Maliki's going to wash his hands of it and lay the 'blame' entirely on Sadr to curry favor with what's left of his friends in the USG. You watch and see.
Maliki just doesn't want to be seen opposing any agenda of the US, and doesn't want to get thrown under the bus like we did to Hussein when we decided he wasn't performing as ordered. too bad he'll probably get thrown under the bus anyway, and by his own people.