Iraq PM Wants Short-Term U.S. Agreement

Al-Maliki Proposes Interim Deal Instead Of Formal Agreement On Presence Of U.S. Troops

(CBS/AP)  Iraq's prime minister said Monday his country is now proposing an interim deal with the United States on the presence of American troops instead of a more formal agreement — and wants to include a timetable for a U.S. withdrawal.

Some type of agreement is needed to keep U.S. troops in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires at year's end. But many Iraqi lawmakers had criticized the government's attempt to negotiate a formal status of forces agreement, worried that U.S. demands would threaten the country's sovereignty.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the memorandum "now on the table" includes a formula for the withdrawal of U.S. troops — an idea opposed by President Bush.

"The goal is to end the presence (of foreign troops)," al-Maliki told several Arab ambassadors to the United Arab Emirates during a meeting in Abu Dhabi.

The prime minister provided no details. But his national security adviser, Mouwaffak al-Rubaie, told The Associated Press that the government is proposing a timetable conditioned on the ability of Iraqi forces to provide security.

U.S. officials have said little publicly about the negotiations. Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not comment directly on the specifics when asked about it on a trip to Baghdad.

"We'd all like to see U.S. troops get out of here at some point in time," Mullen said. "However, from a military perspective I need the laws and the regulations and the agreements from the government of Iraq in order to continue operations beyond the 31st of December of this year."

With the latest moves, Iraq's government appeared to be trying to blunt opposition in parliament to any deal.

Al-Maliki also could be trying to avoid parliament altogether. He has promised in the past to submit a formal agreement with the U.S. to the legislative body.

But his spokesman indicated Monday that the government might feel no need to get approval from parliament for a shorter-term interim deal.

"It is up to the Cabinet whether to approve it or sign on it, without going back to the parliament," said spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh.

Legal experts said the form of the deal was less significant than its substance.

"You could theoretically include everything in a memorandum of understanding that you could in a formal status of forces agreement," said Michael Matheson, an expert on international law at George Washington University Law School.

The Bush administration has said it doesn't need congressional approval even for a full status of forces agreement — a position criticized by some U.S. lawmakers.

The contentious issues have been U.S. authority to carry out military operations in Iraq and arrest the country's citizens, along with legal immunity for private contractors and control of Iraqi air space.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said last week after a visit to Washington that the U.S. had agreed to drop immunity for private contractors and give up control of Iraqi air space if Iraq guaranteed it could protect the country's skies.

But those concessions, never confirmed by the U.S. side, were apparently not enough to cement a formal agreement, leading Iraq instead to pursue the memorandum.

Al-Maliki said the memorandum would not ignore the thorny issues that held up a more formal deal.

"The memorandum tackles troop movement and presence, respect of sovereignty, direct arrests and direct immunity," he said.

Iraq's government has felt increasingly confident in recent weeks about its authority and the country's improved stability.

Parliament said Monday it would vote July 15 whether to approve provincial elections originally scheduled for Oct. 1. But a senior election official said it was impossible to hold the elections on schedule. If the vote is to be held before the end of the year, parliament must approve the elections by the end of July, said Judge Qassim al-Aboudi.

Violence in Iraq has fallen to its lowest level in four years. The change has been driven by the 2007 buildup of American forces, the Sunni tribal revolt against al Qaeda in Iraq and crackdowns against Shiite militias and Sunni extremists.

Despite the gains, frequent attacks continue.

A roadside bomb killed four people and injured three others Monday close to the Iranian border near Khanaqin, 90 miles northeast of Baghdad, said border guard Capt. Sarchel Abdul-Karim.

Another bomb near a dress shop in Baqouba killed one woman Monday and wounded 14 other people, police said. Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, and the surrounding Diyala province remain one of the country's most violent regions.

Also Monday, gunmen killed a member of the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party in Tal Afar, 260 miles northwest of Baghdad, said police, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Al-Maliki's comments Monday came at a meeting with several Arab ambassadors to the United Arab Emirates in the capital, Abu Dhabi.

On Sunday, the United Arab Emirates canceled all its Iraqi debt and moved to restore a full diplomatic mission in Baghdad by naming a new ambassador.

The move was part of a recent warming between Iraq's Shiite-led government and its mostly Sunni Muslim neighbors. Washington has pushed Gulf states like the UAE to restore ties with the war-torn country.

The Emirates' official news agency, WAM, said the debt was $4 billion not including interest. A UAE official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media said the total debt was $7 billion when interest was added.

The White House applauded the Emirates for forgiving the debt and resuming diplomatic operations in Iraq, reported CBS News correspondent Mark Knoller.

[mcvet]

ROFLMAO It seems EVERYONE is on the same page with the FRAUD of Iraq except the Fascist!! ROFLMAO I wonder how Sir Lies-A-Lot and his clone McSame are going to spin this one?? ROFLMAO In Short all you BOOTLICKERS the PEOPLE of Iraq DO NOT want us there for 100 years... in fact they don''t want us there at all. WE are going to end up with a Nation of Iraq that is going to be friends with and allied to IRAN and there''s not a lot WE are going to do about it.

[tbweb]

"Al-Maliki says the proposed memorandum includes a formula for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq."

From the looks of this Article it would seem Al-Maliki and Obama are on the same withdrawal page and McCain won''t be able to keep the U.S. in Iraq even if he wants to! Interesting development to say the least!

[feelfree4u]

RE: "Iraq PM Wants Short-Term U.S. Agreement"

Here''s one:


%u201CWhy we stand for immediate withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq%u201D

%u201CTHE U.S. occupation of Iraq has not liberated the Iraqi people, but has made life worse for most Iraqis.%u201D

%u201CTens of thousands of U.S. service people have been killed or maimed, and hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis have lost their lives as a result of the U.S. invasion in 2003, the ongoing occupation, and the violence unleashed by them.%u201D

%u201CIraq''s infrastructure has been destroyed, and U.S. plans for reconstruction abandoned. There is less electricity, less clean drinking water, and more unemployment today than before the U.S. invasion.%u201D

%u201CAll of the justifications initially provided by the U.S. for waging war on Iraq have been exposed as lies; the real reasons for the invasion %u2014 to control Iraq''s oil reserves and to increase U.S. strategic influence in the region %u2014 now stand revealed.%u201D

%u201CThe Bush administration has insisted again and again that stability, democracy, and prosperity are around the next bend in the road%u2026But the U.S. has deliberately stoked sectarian divisions in its ongoing attempt to install a U.S.-friendly regime, thus driving Iraq towards civil war.%u201D

%u201CWe call on the U.S. to get out of Iraq %u2014 not in six months, not in a year, but now.%u201D

www.ipetitions.com/petition/OutNow

###

Agreed?

[etheone]

The bottom line is "stability" in the Region. I think that in the interest of stability - the U.S. should tak a good listen to The PM''s proposal, as it is a better starting point , as opposed to the provious position coming out of Iraq. We can not just up a withdraw from this Country (Iraq), after having played such a major role in it''s transition from a Tyrant led regeme to it''s current status - that being a government capable of, eventually, taking care of itself as a progressive role player in the middle east. Our troops will come home, but anyone that thinks that an immediate, and unconditional, pullout is the answer - has no clue as to the ramifications of such action. This should not be a political issue, so when I hear ANY Presidential candidate talk of "an immediate pullout" this reises My eyebrow, as to the Candidate''s intelligence in the area of foregn Affairs.

[samsel3]

The Times of India August 2007 reported :

" Iran, Iraq signed an agreement to build pipelines for the transfer of Iraqi crude oil and oil products." Under the deal crude will be refined and sent back to Iraq. Bush opposed this agreement and wanted the Iraqi Parliment to accept and sign a U.S. designed oil law that would result in huge profits for BIG OIL.

Iraqi oil workers and 63% of Iraqis polled are opposed to the Bush law and prefer a hands off Iraq oil policy.

[samsel3]

On January 26, 1998 in a letter to the President the PNAC asked Clinton to invade Iraq and get rid of Saddam Hussein.. Clinton refused their request.

[samsel3]

Iraq''s oil infrastructure was rebuilt when Cheney controlled Haliburton. Halliburton/Iraq deal was done through the French because it was illegal for US companies to deal with Iraq, except for the oil for food program which US oil companies participated in.

Saddam was charging US interests more for oil then other countries and cutting off supplies at times so the PNAC asked Clinton to get rid of Saddam, he refused .

Paul Wolfowitz,Don Rumsfeld, Scooter Libby, George Bush, Richard Cheney, Eliot Cohen. Zalmay Khalilzad, Steve Forbes, Donald Kagan, Pete Rodman, Henry S Rowen, Dan Quale, William J.Bennett, Jeb Bush,

they are all members of the PNAC Project for a New American Century.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "The bottom line is "stability" in the Region."

Posted by Etheone


Couldn''t we just stabilize it by stuffing a few fascists under the edges?

We have plenty, and we really don''t need them.

[hungry1968]

"Iraq PM Wants Short-Term U.S. Agreement"





Short term, huh?

How''s this: all American troops start withdrawing immediately. Short enough for you?

[docpeter-2009]

From the above article, "Al-Maliki says the proposed memorandum includes a formula for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

President Bush has said he opposes the idea of a specific timetable. "

IOW, Bush has decided that the USA will remain there until he is ready to brign the troops home. It doesn''t matter whether the Iraqi government is ready to go it alone or not.

[mcvet]

This should not be a political issue, so when I hear ANY Presidential candidate talk of "an immediate pullout" this reises My eyebrow, as to the Candidate''''s intelligence in the area of foregn Affairs.

Posted by Etheone at 08:04 AM : Jul 07, 2008
+ report abus

Do YOU honestly BELIEVE the trash you post?? EVEN for a tired Bootlicker like yourself you post is beyond belief. NO ONE, especially the ONE Senator who had the COURAGE to step up and challenge the LIE of Iraq BEFORE we were committed to it has proposed what you post! It SURE sounds to me like the Leader of Iraq and Senator from Illinois are speaking the same language... it''s the fuhrer and McSame who aren''t on the same page. Now lets stand... let SHOOTER know you''re doing your best!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!! thatta boy, there''ll be a Confederate Flag Pin for you at the next rally!!

[barocalto]

But today, on July 6, 2008, the Associated Press reports that * Saddam Hussein had a nuclear program

[barocalto]

But today, on July 6, 2008, the Associated Press reports that * Saddam Hussein had a nuclear program

[missingamerica]

"Al-Maliki says the proposed memorandum includes a formula for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq."

But...but...but..but this does not fit PNAC''s grand scheme...

[liberalme]

President Bush has said he opposes the idea of a specific timetable.

WAIT!!!! We haven''t gotten all OUR oil!!!

Everyone''s stupid George, you''re the genius.

[vnveteran72]

Get ready for the Complete Economic Collapse which has been carefully orchestrated by these Treasonous Criminals, in which America will be purchased by those holding all the Cash they''ve been recieving from the Taxpayers. The Citizenry has financed it''s own demise. Can you say Gullible Retardds???......
I knew that you could.......

[acolton1]

Bush the Douschbag. We have wasted almost a Trillion Dollars in IRAQ because Bushie wanted to be a War Time President. Its time we get out of IRAQ and start to spend money within the USA again. Rebuild our Dams and Bridges and Build a High Speed Rail System across this Country.

George W DouschBag and his Administration will go down in History as the Worst Administration this Country has ever had. My parents who were Die Hard Republicans would have been Ashamed of this Administration.

[barocalto]

But today, on July 6, 2008, the Associated Press reports that * Saddam Hussein had a nuclear program

[harpoot]

Gosh, what will happen to McSame''s 100 year occupation of the oil fields?? Looks like GOP is gettin'' their back sides tossed out of Eye-Rack. Hee hee hee hee hee

[barocalto]

But today, on July 6, 2008, the Associated Press reports that * Saddam Hussein had a nuclear program

[clestes-2009]

shrub has lost his mojo on Iraq. He can no longer call the shots and force his agenda on the them. They first resisted by simply going on vacation or walking out and boycotting.

Now they are just doing what they think is best for their interests. I am sure we will hear choruses of "the surge is working" but I think it is less a surge factor than a new US president who has a completely different agenda on Iraq and they are playing for time until Jan of next year. Much the same as the Iranians.

[barocalto]

But today, on July 6, 2008, the Associated Press reports that * Saddam Hussein had a nuclear program

That would be the Associated Press reporting this, no friend of the Bush administration....

[babooph]

Ah -one result of the surge-the propaganda system obscures the main effect-the massive increase in the tax the middle class will pay for it!!The war against the environment is almost won,the war against the middle class is a total victory-all we must do now is watch it rot away-death by a thousand cuts.

[samsel3]

Iraq''s oil infrastructure was rebuilt when Cheney controlled Haliburton. Halliburton/Iraq deal was done through the French because it was illegal for US companies to deal with Iraq, except for the oil for food program which US oil companies participated in.

Saddam was charging US Oil interests more for oil then other countries and cutting off supplies at times .

On January 26, 1998 in a letter to the President the PNAC asked Clinton to invade Iraq and get rid of Saddam Hussein.. Clinton refused their request.

Paul Wolfowitz,Don Rumsfeld, Scooter Libby, George H.W. Bush, Richard Cheney, Eliot Cohen. Zalmay Khalilzad, Steve Forbes, Donald Kagan, Pete Rodman, Henry S Rowen, Dan Quale, William J.Bennett, Jeb Bush,

they are all members of the PNAC Project for a New American Century.

[babooph]

George is not so sure of the time thing-he wants clarification on the big hand & little hand.

[samsel3]

" Iraqi oil workers and 63% of Iraqis polled are opposed to the Bush law and prefer a hands off Iraq oil policy."

The Times of India August 2007 reported :

" Iran, Iraq signed an agreement to build pipelines for the transfer of Iraqi crude oil and oil products." Under the deal crude will be refined and sent back to Iraq. Bush opposed this agreement and wanted the Iraqi Parliment to accept and sign a U.S. designed oil law that would result in huge profits for BIG OIL.

[hungry1968]

But today, on July 6, 2008, the Associated Press reports that * Saddam Hussein had a nuclear program

Posted by Barocalto at 10:04 AM : Jul 07, 2008





Yeah - the yellow cake that he got from the Reagan / Bush Sr regime.

[liberalme]

more proof that liberalme is not the sharpest knife in the drawer folks

Posted by jamesm12341

Wow jwind11 did you make that up?

You''re about as smart as ole GW Bush and Dan Quayle--Can''t come up with anything intelligent or informative on your own, so you just keep reminding us your purpose here is to disect what we say to make yourself look as stupid as you are.

[barocalto]

there is nothing that will stop the Democrats from using the war and exploiting America''''s suffering for their own selfish political gain.

[hungry1968]

**** off a liberal, stay in Iraq longer.

Posted by zgomer at 10:27 AM : Jul 07, 2008





Yeah - stay there to **** off a liberal.

Who cares how many more people lose their lives, how many more BILLIONS of dollars it''s going to cost, how many more innocent Iraqi''s are going to be turned into refugees.....


"Stay there to **** off a liberal."

I''m telling you all, the f***ing neo cons couldn''t muster up ONE brain cell between them all!!!

[hungry1968]

there is nothing that will stop the Democrats from using the war and exploiting America''''''''s suffering for their own selfish political gain.

Posted by Barocalto at 10:29 AM : Jul 07, 2008





Exploiting America''s suffering?!?!

Why don''t you tell us about how the Bush regime CAUSED all of our suffering?!?!

[ioweign]

**** off a liberal, stay in Iraq longer.

Posted by zgomer at 10:27 AM : Jul 07, 2008

So expose our military for this "latest" reason to invade and be in Iraq.

You will be a big hit with our veterans too.

[ramos937]

Have you ever buried a flag draped coffin? Shaken the prosthetic hand of an Iraqi vet? Thanked an Iraqi vet for sacrificing his leg for GOP foreign policy? How long should we stay before EVERYONE has had enough?
------------------------------------
To the poster of the above. No, I have not simply because I have not had the honor to do so. However, I make it a point, when I am in a cafe to pick up the check of any military types and thank them.

A Service Disabled Vet.

[ramos937]

Even Maliki is saying enough is enough. Please go. Bush will not withdraw our guys under any circumstances. McCain would continue Bush policy. Obama would withdraw as quickly as possible.

[vietnam21]

EVERYONE has had enough?

Posted by dragonwagon5
We have no proble to stay in Germany, S.Korea, dubai, kuwai ,Asia, Eastern EU so **** off a liberal, stay in Iraq longer. I agree.

[liberalme]

**** off a liberal, stay in Iraq longer.

Posted by zgomer at 10:27 AM : Jul 07, 2008

Ok Gomer Pyle--you like the killing so much---go relieve one or 2 of our troops over there, go ahead--unless you''re a coward, unless you''re one of "those" who is too cowardly (like Bush and Cheney) to go and in your own mind you think you''re supporting them by being a cheerleader in front of your tv---a real American.

[bogusbones]

get the hint - we want you out, we don''t like you nor do we really appreciate the fact that you''ve torn our country apart and killed thousands of our countrymen. by the way, you''re going to pay a premium for any oil we start producing, because that''s really the only reason you are here. democracy, hah, you are much more interested in our oil. when will the u.s. ever learn?

[nevminer735]

%u201CAll of the justifications initially provided by the U.S. for waging war on Iraq have been exposed as lies; the real reasons for the invasion %u2014 to control Iraq''''s oil reserves and to increase U.S. strategic influence in the region %u2014 now stand revealed.%u201D

My pappy had a saying that went like this: the chickens all come to the roost at night. So it looks like the Iraqi people are getting tired of controled by the NEOCONS and want to be able to run their own affairs. The war in Iraq was initially reproted in a ABC news article in 2001 as an oil grab and it appears that now, RE:60 Minutes, July6,2008; everytimg has been exposed for what it was. *** Cheney and his bunch from the Reagan Administration should be put on trial for the war and HUNG. Warmongers that were not patirotic enough to wear the Uniform of the U.S. Military deserve that sentence.

[barocalto]

July 6, 2008, the Associated Press reports that Saddam Hussein had a nuclear program

[j-whitman]

There you have it folks, the bottom line - If Bush & McBush opposes it, it must be a great idea-- Al-Maliki says the proposed memorandum includes a formula for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

[vietnam21]

We station In Japan, S.Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Kuwait, Bahrain, Turkey, Qatar, UaE, Oman, We have no problem Here..

[j-whitman]

vietnam21,,,, And none of those are Iraq, which points out our long term involvement in those countries might not be appreciated by people in those countries --- Look at South Korea for an example, they also want us out.

[ajayvee]

What a joke! Al-Maliki, the puppet head of a conquered and occupied land wants to dictate terms to the occupying Imperial conquerers. What a joke!

[j-whitman]

dmw1167,,,, Pay attention for once -- This article proves to you that McBush is flatly Wrong about Iraq & Obama is correct.

[vietnam21]

Look at South Korea for an example, they also want us out.


Posted by j-whitman

FYI, I was there on vacation last year, The Korean are so Americanize...they love America.

[j-whitman]

dmw1167,,,, You might want to consider what Bush & McBush said about Iraq being the "Central Front" on the War on Terror --

Bush & McBush has been constantly Wrong on every thing in Iraq including long term envolvement --- They are just as Wrong in the War on Terror

[vietnam21]

We are UN, UN are US get it ??

[j-whitman]

vietnam21,,,, I''ve spent a lot of time in South Korea myself, so don''t feed me that garbage.

[vietnam21]

vietnam21,,,, I''''ve spent a lot of time in South Korea myself, so don''''t feed me that garbage.


Posted by j-whitman
Stuborn and hardheaded..

[vietnam21]

Oh , dont forget Taiwan.