http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080825/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_us_pact;_ylt=AlI5CfzLcP7MBWxYJKgH57NI2ocA
BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki dug in his heels Monday on the future of the U.S. military in Iraq, insisting that all foreign soldiers leave the country by a specific date in 2011 and rejecting legal immunity for American troops.
Despite the tough words, al-Maliki's aides insisted a compromise could be found on the two main stumbling blocks to an accord governing the U.S. military presence in Iraq after a United Nations mandate expires at the end of the year.
Last week, U.S. and Iraqi officials said the two sides agreed tentatively to a schedule that includes a broad pullout of combat troops by the end of 2011 with the possibility that a residual U.S. ***** might stay behind to continue training and advising Iraqi security services.
But al-Maliki's remarks indicated his government was not satisfied with that arrangement and wants all foreign troops gone by the end of 2011.
That cast doubt on whether an agreement is near and suggested al-Maliki is playing to a domestic audience frustrated by the war and eager for an end to the foreign military presence.
"There can be no treaty or agreement except on the basis of Iraq's full sovereignty," al-Maliki told a gathering of Shiite tribal sheiks. He said an accord must be based on the principle that "no foreign soldier remains in Iraq after a specific deadline, not an open time frame."
Al-Maliki said the U.S. and Iraq had already agreed on a full withdrawal of all foreign troops by the end of 2011 — an interpretation that the White House challenged. Until then, the U.S. would not conduct military operations "without the approval" of the Iraqi government, al-Maliki said.
This is truly amazing,the govt we helped to get installed says c'mon you need to leave soon and we are fighting that all the way.Is there really any doubt we went there intending to be there a long time? That was the plan from the very beginning IMO and it is all about the oil and having a new US military presence permanantly in the region.This is going to get worse and worse especially if John ( we might be there a 100 years) McCain gets elected.They will be saying leave ,he will say no and eventually the whole world will have to face up to what we are really up to here.They probably won't be able to do much about it ,but our good guy image will be further eroded.
BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki dug in his heels Monday on the future of the U.S. military in Iraq, insisting that all foreign soldiers leave the country by a specific date in 2011 and rejecting legal immunity for American troops.
Despite the tough words, al-Maliki's aides insisted a compromise could be found on the two main stumbling blocks to an accord governing the U.S. military presence in Iraq after a United Nations mandate expires at the end of the year.
Last week, U.S. and Iraqi officials said the two sides agreed tentatively to a schedule that includes a broad pullout of combat troops by the end of 2011 with the possibility that a residual U.S. ***** might stay behind to continue training and advising Iraqi security services.
But al-Maliki's remarks indicated his government was not satisfied with that arrangement and wants all foreign troops gone by the end of 2011.
That cast doubt on whether an agreement is near and suggested al-Maliki is playing to a domestic audience frustrated by the war and eager for an end to the foreign military presence.
"There can be no treaty or agreement except on the basis of Iraq's full sovereignty," al-Maliki told a gathering of Shiite tribal sheiks. He said an accord must be based on the principle that "no foreign soldier remains in Iraq after a specific deadline, not an open time frame."
Al-Maliki said the U.S. and Iraq had already agreed on a full withdrawal of all foreign troops by the end of 2011 — an interpretation that the White House challenged. Until then, the U.S. would not conduct military operations "without the approval" of the Iraqi government, al-Maliki said.
This is truly amazing,the govt we helped to get installed says c'mon you need to leave soon and we are fighting that all the way.Is there really any doubt we went there intending to be there a long time? That was the plan from the very beginning IMO and it is all about the oil and having a new US military presence permanantly in the region.This is going to get worse and worse especially if John ( we might be there a 100 years) McCain gets elected.They will be saying leave ,he will say no and eventually the whole world will have to face up to what we are really up to here.They probably won't be able to do much about it ,but our good guy image will be further eroded.