Iraq, Iran Discuss U.S. Security Pact

Bush Plan To Keep American Troops In Iraq For Years Beyond His Presidency Is Focus Of Maliki's Talks With Tehran

(CBS/AP)  Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki arrived in Tehran on Saturday for talks with Iranian leaders that were expected to focus on a proposed U.S.-Iraq security agreement that Iran fears will keep the U.S. military in neighboring Iraq for years.

The deal, which the Iraqis and Americans hope to finish by midsummer, would establish a long-term security relationship between Iraq and the United States.

Critics however say it will allow Washington to set up military bases across Iraq and allow the U.S. to use the country as a launching pad for military attacks in the region.

Washington and Baghdad are also negotiating a parallel agreement to provide a legal basis for keeping U.S. troops in Iraq after the United Nations mandate expires at the end of the year.

The Independent newspaper in London reported Thursday that Iraqi officials are worried that the White House agreements, which are being pushed without approval by the U.S. Congress, would have "an explosive political effect" in Iraq.

The paper said leaked details about the agreements include U.S. troops occupying permanent bases in the country as well as the ability to conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and receive immunity from Iraqi law. It reported that Iraqi officials fear the accord would lay the basis for "unending conflict" in their country.

Ahead of the two-day visit, al-Maliki's party sought to calm worries by insisting that the deal would not allow foreign troops to use Iraq as a ground to invade another country - a clear reference to Iranian fears of a U.S. attack.

U.S. Congressional Democrats have urged the Bush administration not to bypass Congress, which they believe should approve any deal.

They fear a long-term security deal with Iraq - if it committed the U.S. to protecting Iraq - could make it difficult for the next president to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq.

The toughest words have come from Iraqi officials, especially those loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr, the anti-American cleric whose militiamen fought U.S. and Iraqi troops in Baghdad until a May truce ended seven weeks of fighting.

Tens of thousands took to the streets in Baghdad's Shiite slum of Sadr City on Friday to protest against the agreement.

Supporters believe the deal would guarantee U.S. support as Iraq seeks to cement the security gains of the past year.

It would also help assure Iraq's Sunni Arab neighbors, notably Saudi Arabia, that Iraq's Shiite-led government would not become an Iranian satellite.

U.S. officials have released no details about the negotiations, which began last March, but the U.S. alleges that Iran is encouraging a public campaign in Iraq against the proposed security agreement, which the Iranians oppose.

Al-Maliki's Dawa party has described the talks as stalled and prominent parliamentarians from Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish parties have written to Congress to express their opposition to the proposed agreement, which must be approved by the Iraqi legislature.


In Other Developments:

Iraqi police said two car bombs exploded in central and western Baghdad, killing at least four people. They said one was a suicide car bomb targeting a police patrol in Nisoor Square on the capital's west side. Police said a civilian and a policeman were killed and five other people were wounded.

The other blast took place Saturday afternoon at a small bus station in central Baghdad, killing two civilians and wounding nine. The station is a hub for buses heading east into Shiite neighborhoods.


Iraq Oil Minister Says Security Allowed Oil Boost

Iraq's oil minister said improved security has allowed the country to boost its oil production to pre-war levels.

Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani said the increase has enabled Iraq to earn nearly $28.5 billion in revenues in the first five months of this year.

Production last month hit the pre-war level of 2.5 million barrels a day. Al-Shahristani told parliament that in the coming five years, Iraq should be able to produce between 4 and 4.5
million barrels a day.

Security in the oil-producing areas of southern Iraq has improved since the government launched a crackdown on Shiite militias in late March.


U.S. Kills 4 Suspected Militants, Captures 5

The U.S. military said it has killed four suspected militants, captured five others and destroyed
two safehouses in northern Iraq.

A statement from the military said American soldiers called in airstrikes and killed the four men Saturday after coming under small-arms fire southwest of Mosul. They also destroyed two
buildings filled with weapons, ammunition and graffiti indicating they were used for foreign militants.

The military said five men were captured in a separate raid in Mosul. Two of them are accused of conspiring with senior al Qaeda in Iraq leaders in the city.

Mosul is believed to be one of the last urban strongholds of the terror group, and U.S. and Iraqi forces have fought fierce battles against militants there in recent months.

[vietnam21]

Iran and Iraq fought for over 10 years, certainly now Iran are friend with Iraq????. Huh

[noloyalisti]

Here is a good question: why is our ally negotiating with "the enemy". Where is McSame''s criticism of Maliki? Or is it OK as long as it is not President Obama or an American?

[floydzeppl]

THE ONLY WAY DEMOCRACY WILL EVER TAKE PLACE IN IRAQ OR IRAN IS WHEN THE PEOPLE OF THOSE COUNTRIES HAVE AN OPEN BIBLE AND AN OPEN HEART. DEMOCRACY CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIANITY.


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Posted by darnedsocks at 03:09 AM : Jun 09, 2008
------------

Tell that to the Shinto/Buddhist/Confucionist Japanese you big dumass.

[robroyh390]

Why the f-u-c-k are we there.


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Posted by armydog2 at 08:07 AM : Jun 09, 2008"

Because you and your fellow americans were and appear to be still dumb enough to worship and revere the drunken drug addicted baboon you put into the Wh0re House

[armydog2]

why is maliki in Iran discussing a treaty between iraq and the USA. Doesn''t this seem odd to anyone, our Soldiers are loosing their lives to help stand up maliki''s govt and he is in Iran talking to them about our treaty.Why the f-u-c-k are we there.

[darnedsocks]

THE ONLY WAY DEMOCRACY WILL EVER TAKE PLACE IN IRAQ OR IRAN IS WHEN THE PEOPLE OF THOSE COUNTRIES HAVE AN OPEN BIBLE AND AN OPEN HEART. DEMOCRACY CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIANITY.

[tbweb]

FeelFree4U why on earth are you arguing with someone who just told you he doesn''t need any evidence to believe in what he does?
You''re arguing with a demented person, why put yourself, and the rest of us, through this??

Posted by closethippy1 at 08:39 PM : Jun 08, 2008,,,

This is how misinformation starts, I said not have 100% proof, I did not say not have no proof at all. Iran is always talking about wiping Israel off the map, always saying Israel will disappear soon, so if Israel is suddenly gone, who will be the first one questioned? Iran of course! Iran just attacked Kurds in Iraq with Turkey, so Irans hands are not clean and Iran is already attacking and killing inside Iraq, but according to you and FeelFree4U only killing Kurds, not Americans, sure, ok.

[hisprime1]

Judge not lest ye be judged not just tweb,but all of us need to watch the words of our mouth beause we shall be going to JESUS one way or the other oh FEEL4FREE HE IS REAL PERIOD!!!!!!!

[feelfree4u]

Re: "FeelFree4U why on earth are you arguing with someone who just told you he doesn''t need any evidence to believe in what he does?
You''re arguing with a demented person, why put yourself, and the rest of us, through this??"

Posted by closethippy1

Point taken.

Cheers!

[hisprime1]

Judge not lest ye be judged not just tweb,but all of us need to watch the words of our mouth beause we shall be going to JESUS one way or the other oh FEEL4FREE HE IS REAL PERIOD!!!!!!!

[closethippy1]

FeelFree4U why on earth are you arguing with someone who just told you he doesn''t need any evidence to believe in what he does?
You''re arguing with a demented person, why put yourself, and the rest of us, through this??

[feelfree4u]

tbweb,

Re: "I''ll asked God to forgive you for calling him that name,"

Don''t waste your time.

Re: "I just know he punched a ticket to hades for you when you said that! Oh my ..."

I''ll save you a seat!

[tbweb]

Re: "People who don''t believe in God have the same problem as you, they need proof first!"

Posted by tbweb

Your faith-based boobery has resulted in a whole lot of dead, maimed, and tortured people so far, "tbweb".

If your "God" is for real, and he/she is behind you, then your "God" is an ****** and a dope- just like you!

Posted by FeelFree4U at 08:24 PM : Jun 08, 2008,,,

FeelFree1, play nice, we don''t want your userid canceled again!, you''ll end up like lars008 who eventually ran out of numbers and changed his handle completely, soon you will be up to FeelFree8me lol, this is too much fun! I''ll asked God to forgive you for calling him that name, I just know he punched a ticket to hades for you when you said that! Oh my ...

[oneworldusa]

Could trouble be brewing? Or peace? Hmmmm..

[closethippy1]

Why would Iraq need permanent US bases if that country is supposed to be OK after they got rid of Saddam and has become a democracy???
Bush and his ilk keep contradicting themselves and talking out of their behinds.
And to be able to police the entire country without even asking for permission from the Iraqis is a sure formula for the resistance to go on and on.
It''s Iraq''s democracy that will inspire other Arab countries to go the same route, not the permanent US military bases.
If the US gets its way it will nullify whatever benefit there''s coming from Iraq''s democracy.
Trying to act like Israel does in Palestine will only make life a hell for the Americans in Iraq and their Iraqi supporters.
This is just plain insane.

[stevex47]

Bush is just trying to screw us for eternity, not just his 8 miserable years in office.

[hisprime1]

The sooner that the collapsing, welfare/terror-State of Israel wipes itself off the map, the better.
Hopefully, they won''''t take anybody else with them!
Posted by FeelFree4U
American freedom lets you and all like you say that,but we have a real security aggreement with Israel.they go we go ha ha ha ha

[tbweb]

Re: "Saddams WMD program was on mobile vehicles, there are official photos to prove this, these mobile vehicles were never located after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, so where are they?"

Posted by tbweb

THEY ARE IN YOUR TWISTED IMAGINATION!!!

THAT FALSE CLAIM WAS THOROUGHLY DEBUNKED 5 YEARS AGO!

I CAN''T BELIEVE THAT ANYONE WOULD BE DUMB ENOUGH TO OFFER IT UP YET AGAIN AT THIS LATE DATE!

Posted by FeelFree4U at 08:06 PM : Jun 08, 2008,,,

People who don''t believe in God have the same problem as you, they need proof first! lol We also pointed out 5 years ago that people could be shot all around you and unless you saw who did it no one killed them, the bullet appeared out of thin air! You should be able to solve problems and reach conclusions without all the variables! You obviously never had to solve for X! 100% proof is nice but not always a requirement! I remember when the terrorist captured that Russian school with all those school children, the Russians said it was the Chechens with no proof at all and ended up being right, but I wonder what led the Russians to that lucky guess?

[j-whitman]

jamesm12341,,,, Make up your mind, 1st you said you lost them, now you say you sold them ---- Just another ding in your credibility, you probably never had them in the 1st place.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "I''m sorry about my spelling."

Posted by hisprime1

Your spelling is the least of your problems.