Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will continue negotiating with the US on a deal to keep a contingent of troops in Iraq, despite President Barack Obama’s announcement on Friday that all troops would be withdrawn in December.
Obama made the announcement after a deal to keep a few thousand US troops in Iraq beyond the December deadline to withdraw fell through at the Iraqi refusal to grant immunity to those forces. But Maliki apparently didn’t see it that way.
“Now that we have put this behind us, this will let us settle the issue of training,” Maliki said. “Iraqis will ask to resume talks over the number of trainers, the duration (of their stay in Iraq) and how those trainers will be used.”
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta also mentioned continuing talks to decide on a new role for US troops inside the country, again, despite Obama’s announcement. According to Panetta, once the “reduction of the combat presence” is completed they will enter into a new round of talks with the Iraqi government on keeping troops for military trainers and “security needs” going forward.
Maliki’s eagerness to renew talks is probably due to a lack of confidence in the Iraqi government and security forces to maintain stability in a still violent country. Car bombings and insurgent attacks are still a common occurrence, and foreign policy issues like encroaching Turkish troops and airstrikes into northern Iraq could be making Maliki and others nervous to be without US military and diplomatic muscle.
But there’s no indication that the US will stop making huge deals in arms and military equipment with Iraq or abandon a tacit security and protection deal with Iraq. Indeed, Obama referred to a new “normal relationship” with Iraq, probably referring to the kind that generalizes throughout the Middle East region characterized by large packages of economic and military aid to abusive governments and armies in exchange for conformity to US interests, as understood by Washington national security planners.
So it will look like Obama really really wanted to bring them home but unfortunately our good friend adn ally who's not at all a puppet insisted that they remain. And I'm pretty sure the American news media will uncritically accept and regurgitate this. This stuff is getting too predictable.
no just acquisitions & liquidations, right of ways, yes, its helter skelter baby,,, next question, whatever it may be though, my meely mouthed tools can handle it, wink wink,if ya know what i meen, apreceatation & protection, thats funny stuff, over hare, its called murder
Here's a much better article explaining what is happening in Iraq but antiwar can't come to terms with the fall of the emire. Ten days have gone by since President Barack Obama accused Iran of instigating a foiled plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington last April. Yet neither the US nor Saudi Arabia has done anything about it – even at the UN.
http://www.debka.com/article/21412/
I'd take EVERYTHING Debka publishes with a huge grain of salt.
In an environment where "truth" and "facts" are shrouded in the ambiguity and non-speak of politicians and functionaries, reading tea leaves is a game for Charlatans and con men. Perhaps Maliki realized that if the US leaves, his "backbone" leaves with them and leaves him facing a resurgent Sadr who probably has more advocates in the new Iraqi military than Maliki – I mean, no one likes corruption unless it's their corruption.
Maybe Maliki wants to keep the US around as an easy target for the Iranians after the US attacks Iran – which they seem to be gearing up for despite all protestations otherwise.
But really, maybe I'll just wait and see what shakes out. There's a fair bet that whatever happens, the US taxpayer is going to have to pony up, again. And I personally put little faith in Obama's ""they'll be home for the holidays" promise. IF they are it most likely will be only for the holidays and then it'll be off to Afghanistan/Pakistan/Yemen/Somalia/yada yada yada…take your pick.
Best definition of "honest politician" ever: A man who once he's been bought stays bought.
First published in 1872 in the British humour magazine, Punch.
Boggles the mind that the pols here actually believe that Maliki likes us and is completely bought. When the flow of $$$ stops, Maliki will return to the tribes.