Maliki Withholds Support For U.S. Pact

Ruling Shiite Coalition, Sunni Lawmakers Say Plan To Keep Troops In Iraq 3 Years Violates Iraq's Sovereignty

(AP)  Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's ruling Shiite coalition withheld support Sunday for the proposed security pact that would keep U.S. troops here for three more years, dealing a setback to American hopes of a speedy approval of the agreement.

The statement by the United Iraqi Alliance called for unspecified changes to the draft agreement, which parliament must ratify by the end of the year when the U.N. mandate expires.

The group's move comes a day after tens of thousands of demonstrators, mostly Shiites, took to the streets of Baghdad to show their opposition to the agreement.

The Shiite alliance holds 85 of parliament's 275 seats and al-Maliki needs solid support from the alliance to win approval of the agreement by a strong majority.

The 30 lawmakers loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have already said they will vote against the agreement, and some Sunni lawmakers have spoken out against it, too.

In its statement, the alliance said the agreement, hammered out in months of difficult negotiations, contained some "positive points" but more time was needed "for discussion, dialogue and to amend some of its articles."

The alliance established a committee to solicit views and study the agreement in detail, the statement added.

The alliance did not specify what it considered positive or negative, and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari warned it would be difficult to reopen negotiations.

Hassan al-Suneid, a member of the alliance from al-Maliki's party, said members had reservations about portions "that don't comply with Iraq's sovereignty."

"We cannot talk today about rejection or acceptance in the absolute," al-Suneid told The Associated Press. "There are weak and strong points," including a timeline for the departure of American troops.

The agreement provides for American troops to leave Baghdad and other Iraqi cities by the end of June and withdraw from the country entirely by the end of 2011 unless the government asks them to stay.

It would also give Iraq limited authority to prosecute U.S. soldiers and contractors for crimes committed off post and off duty, limit U.S. authority to search homes and detain people and give Iraqis more say in the conduct of American military operations.

Some lawmakers complained the language in the draft was vague, especially those governing U.S. military operations and legal jurisdiction over American troops and contractors.

Although the alliance did not reject the accord outright, the review process within a coalition whose leaders negotiated the accord could well mean that parliament will not vote on the agreement until after the Nov. 4 U.S. election.

Many Iraqi lawmakers say privately they still need U.S. troops because the Iraqi military and police alone are incapable of handling security nationwide despite the sharp drop in violence since last year.

But approval has been complicated by next year's provincial and national elections, as well as the narrow partisan interests, sectarian and ethnic divisions that have defined Iraqi politics since the 2003 collapse of Saddam Hussein.

Iraqi politicians fear positions they take on the security pact will determine how they will fare at the ballot box, since many voters are anxious to see U.S. troops leave. Iraqi control of their own country is a burning issue in a nation that once saw itself as the beacon of pan-Arab nationalism.

Furthermore, many Shiite politicians have close ties to neighboring Iran, where they lived in exile during Saddam's rule. Shiite-dominated Iran strongly opposes the agreement.

On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Washington's plan for a security deal with Iraq was futile because Iraqis "have announced their opposition" to the deal, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported from Tehran.

The pact with the U.S. is expected to serve as a model for a separate agreement on the future of the 4,100 British troops in Iraq as well as the handful of other countries that remain in the coalition.

Al-Maliki said Sunday he would appoint a team soon to start discussions with Britain.

"It is the time to build the best relationships with the countries that stood with Iraq against dictatorship in order to build a modern state," al-Maliki said in a statement after meeting with British Defense Secretary John Hutton.

Al-Maliki told The Times of London last week that British forces are no longer necessary to provide security but there may be a need for a few of them for training and technical issues.

Despite security improvements, attacks continue, albeit at their lowest levels in four years.

Two bombs exploded Sunday near separate Iraqi police in the Shiite-dominated southeast Baghdad neighborhood of Zafaraniya, killing two people and wounding a total of 17, police and hospital officials said.

The U.S. military reported two dead and two wounded and blamed Shiite extremists.

In the north, Turkish warplanes Sunday bombed Kurdish rebel hideouts inside Iraqi territory, according to an Iraqi Kurdish official.

Helgurv Khider, an official of the semiautonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, said the bombings targeted four towns near the Turkish border. He gave no information on possible casualties. There was no immediate Turkish military confirmation of the airstrikes.

The military has carried out a series of air raids against suspected positions in northern Iraq used by Kurdish rebels to stage attacks across the border in Turkey. Attacks have escalated since Kurdish rebels killed 17 soldiers on Oct. 3.

[eroosevelt08]

It sounds as though the United States military has worn out its welcome in Iraq.

[petro49l]

The Iraqi Army and the Sunni/Shia Militias should take control of the country. They have done an excellent job suppressing Al Qada. Bin Laden''s Organization trafficks narcotics and illicit pornography. Al Qada is responsible for the felonious sexual assaults on women and children. Baghdad must restore morality and end the threat of terror.

[veteranx-2009]

Churchill said that the outcome of a war can be gauged by the political results. By this measure, the misnamed "surge" was a failure. Churchill btw judged his WWII performance by that standard and found it wanting, with the Soviet Union occupying Eastern Europe and the British Empire in shreds.

[middleman8]

When all of the Iraqi sects join together and stand up, the american genocide invaders and their accomplises will be ran out in 48 hrs.

[downtowner97]

Note to Maliki: Kick us out. Please!

[marshall65]

You could see this coming six months ago. We''ve been busy building long term installations around Iraq and they have no intention of allowing us to stay. The troops can start coming home right around inauguration day. If McCain is president, he can lump it.

[irmcvet97]

Put the Kurdist in charge...

Posted by vietname21 at 11:29 AM : Oct 20, 2008


LOL YOU of ALL people should know THAT will not work! LOL

[pmaldona]

Excellent post Alphaa100. I''m glad there are people with their eyes open that were never fooled by the lies of Bush & Co.

[boatdocster]

Posted by tapsettle at 01:54 AM : Oct 20, 2008

Agree, I was never for the war in Iraq and all evidence at that time indicated no threat (except of course the evidence fabricated by the Shrub and Darth Vader).

A lot of good Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed, billions to trillions of dollars wasted.

[grandesign]

A Day in the Life -- In the Land of Speed Bumps, Baghdad, Iraq

For those who have been, it is in Baghdad that you cannot get from point A to point B without transversing a multiple of speed bumps. Everywhere in the International Zone speed bumps keep the pulse of activity down to a minimum. It''s a necessary method to keep the pace comfortable, and the peace stable. There cannot be too much growth and development without the necessary slowing down and speeding up that occurs. Even the political process is rife with speed bumps. They bring a tempo to the situation that people can find helpful, since you don''t want someone getting to far ahead of others.

The Land of Speed Bumps needs to keep moving forward at a steady pace. It cannot get too lively, nor come to a stand-still--unless checking identification; because the speed bumps are here for everyone''s safety. They are a fiter to remove those militants that want to disrupt the country. The speed bumps help bring tranquility to a difficult environment.

[lastdance128]

Support For U.S. Pact - Does Not Necessary mean : US TROOPS

These Companies are STILL in and Will Remain In Iraq

Halliburton - (No Bid Defense Contracts)
Blackwater Mercenaries : (No Bid Defense Contracts)

You Remember Blackwater :
Federal Investigation : Blackwater was shipping weapons, night-vision scopes,
armor, gun kits and other military goods to Iraq without the required permits

Nov 14th, 2007 - During today%u2019s House Oversight Committee hearing on the
performance of State Department Inspector General Howard Krongard

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) revealed that Krongard%u2019s brother %u2014 Former CIA
Executive Director A.B. %u201CBuzzy%u201D Krongard %u2014 sits on Blackwater USA%u2019s board.

One of the charges against Krongard is that he blocked a House investigation
into whether weapons illegally smuggled into Iraq by Blackwater employees
were then %u201Csold on the black market and ended up in the hands of a
U.S.-designated terrorist organization.

This issue being looked into because of complaints from the Turkish government
back in July. Turkey seized U.S. weapons from members of the
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)--a U.S. designated terrorist organization

In a Sept. 18 letter, Waxman revealed that Krongard had ordered his
Investigators to %u201CIMMEDIATELY%u201D stop cooperating with federal investigators.

Oct. 30, 2007 - The State Department Granted Immunity to Blackwater for
The Murder of Seventeen (17) Unarmed Women and Children

[lewiston14]

If ever there was an excuse to get out there it is. "We dont want you here anymore" Good enough for me see ya have a nice civil war.

PS: if we need to we can come back and blow you up somemore this time not being so carefull what we hit.

[lastdance128]

singinrich (AKA : singinrick) - (AKA singinprick)
______
nowhere in that conversation where I said I hated homosexuals or lesbians
and you know it.So you are once again flaunting your daily "make
yourself feel good about yourself" lies and slander in order to fulfill that deep
emptiness you have inside of your heart.
Posted by singinrick at 02:09 PM : Jan 24, 2008
_______
RE : singinrick - A little something to help your memory - Your own Postings ---

Homosexuals... model a poor view of marriage to children. They are taught by example
and belief that marital relationships are transitory and most sexual in nature.
Sexual relationships are primarily for pleasure rather than procreation.
Posted by singinrick at 12:44 AM : Jan 03, 2008
______
Human sacrifice is a satanic ritual and is performed in America and across the globe today.
Halloween is their favorite night to do this while the world sleeps.
Posted by singinrick at 11:57 PM : Jan 02, 2008
____
Why are they allowed to speak out FOR homosexuality but we''''re not allowed to
speak out against it?
Posted by singinrick at 11:56 PM : Jan 02, 2008
___
I don''''t hate anyone either....they just hate that I stand up against homosexuality
so they go on the assault...Have a blessed evening.
Posted by singinrick at 08:21 PM : Jan 02, 2008
____
I haven''t condemned anyone. I have simply spoken out about how I believe
homosexuality is immoral as you have...God bless you.
Posted by singinrick at 08:20 PM : Jan 02, 2008

[lastdance128]

singinrich ___ (AKA : singinrick) - (AKA singinprick)

yes, maybe one day when I blindly accept everything I read in the Bible, I will have a strong academic suit! Until then, I''''ll fall back on reason, logic, evidence, I know, it''''s hard for someone as sophisticated as you to understand.Posted by singinprick at 09:15 PM : Feb 14, 2008
____

RE: singinprick (aka-singinrick)
Tell us more about Human Sacrifices and Satanic Rituals
_____
Human sacrifice is a satanic ritual and is performed in America and across the globe today.
Halloween is their favorite night to do this while the world sleeps.
Posted by singinrick at 11:57 PM : Jan 02, 2008
(page 9)
____
Some religions (such as Satanism) teach human sacrifices and murder
Do you think these religions should be able to practice this freely?
Posted by singinrick at 07:48 PM : Jan 02, 2008
_____
Both victims are known to be involved with the occult, and while the crimes remain unsolved
authorities say of the case, "It was definately a satanic murder. And it wasn''''t a one-man job"
Posted by singinrick at 11:40 PM : Jan 02, 2008
______
when the mother, my girlfriend, felt bad about giving up her baby for sacrifice and went tot he
police, we decided to make an example out of her as a warning to the rest of the coven:
NO ONE NARCS ON US TO THE POLICE AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!"
Posted by singinrick at 11:35 PM : Jan 02, 2008
___

[lastdance128]

singinrich (AKA : singinrick) - (AKA singinprick)

singinprick (aka-singinrick) - Religious Hypercritic___singinprick (aka-singinrick)
Tell us Again More How - You Hate - Religon
____

Personally, I hate religion. It has caused more turmoil throughout history
than allot of issues have.
Posted by singinrick at 12:18 AM : Jan 03, 2008
____
I declare Jihad against all Jihadies that Jihad against Bush''''s Jihad!
Posted by singingrick at 11:33 AM : Feb 03, 2008

[smurfcrusher]

Another Bush victory!

[tapsettle]

Bush said we would leave when the Iraqi''s wanted us to leave.
Sounds like the Iraqi people are ready for us to leave.
-----
Posted by boatdocster

Reasonable point except they never wanted americans there in the first place, nor did they ever do anything to deserve the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of their men, women and children by the same americans. The ''Iraqis will welcome us with open arms'' had as much credibility as the Iraq - Al-Qaeda link, or the yellowcake from Niger krap.

[tapsettle]

Since Maliki only ever does what Bush tells him to, you have to wonder as to whether he is trying to kid the Iraqis (and broader international community) that he is acting in Iraqis ''best interests''. Truth is, the US wants the american bases, and to preserve access to the oil. Maliki wants some of the fortune without getting lynched by his ''countryfolk''. It wont be Maliki that kills off this pact, but there sure as heck will be a lot more americans dying if somebody doesnt kill it off.

[boatdocster]

Bush said we would leave when the Iraqi''s wanted us to leave.

Sounds like the Iraqi people are ready for us to leave.

[puldr]

Now, the democratically elected Iraqi prime minister is demanding we leave their country soon. So let''s get the hell out (we made a terrible mistake thinking there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq!), spend the ten billion a month here in our country so our economy screwed up royally by the Bush administration can recover!!