Iraq likely to miss deadline on long-term agreement with U.S.
Iraq likely to miss deadline on long-term agreement with U.S.
An Iraqi government official today said that a “July target for negotiating an agreement on future relations between Iraq and the United States is likely to be missed.” The AP reports:
U.S. and Iraqi officials began talks in March on twin agreements on the status of U.S. military forces in Iraq after 2008 and a strategic framework agreement that defines long-term bilateral ties. [...]
“I don’t think that we can meet this date. There is a difference in viewpoints between Iraq and the U.S. I don’t think that time is enough to end this gap and to reach a joint understanding … Therefore, we are not committed to July as a deadline,” he told al-Arabiya television. [...]
The talks have angered many Iraqis who suspect the United States, which led the 2003 invasion of Iraq and has around 155,000 troops in the country, of wanting to keep a permanent presence there.
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The Iraqis will likely run the clock out on GDumbya. They don’t want a permanent U.S. presence in their country but neither do they want to piss off GDumbya or Darth Cheney. After all, look what happened when Saddam did that.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:38 pm“The talks have angered many Iraqis who suspect the United States… of wanting to keep a permanent presence there.”
Whatever makes them think that? Surely it cant be that monstrous 1 billion dollar fortress/US embassy in the heart of their capital, or the huge military bases scattered around their country?
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:40 pmI also think the Iraqis are simply playing for time, hoping that a new administration will be more honest in dealing with them.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:40 pmI think this indicates that Al-Maliki has increased faith in the Iraqi military since they cracked down on the militia elements in Basra. The Iraqi government won’t show us the door til they are sure they are safe from their domestic enemies. That means a security force that is loyal and effective.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:42 pmthis will be interesting.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:46 pmPunishment to be determined in 6 months.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:46 pmKeltoi Says:
I think this indicates that Al-Maliki has increased faith in the Iraqi military since they cracked down on the militia elements in Basra. The Iraqi government won’t show us the door til they are sure they are safe from their domestic enemies. That means a security force that is loyal and effective.
Your post is only partially correct. As we prop up the Malaki regime, he is making millions and millions of dollars. Those around Malaki are also raiding our US Treasury gravy train.
Malaki needs us to protect he and his cronys, all the while playing lip service to strengthening his military hold on power. Malaki’s allegiance sits within himself and nobody else.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:49 pmIs this another benchmark that is being missed?
Is this a giant F(riedman) U(nit) from Iraq to Bush?
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:49 pmPerpetual war = perpetual profit
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:51 pmHuge contracts are at stake. You can bet there will be an agreement.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:57 pmJust was reading:
New Contracts Reflect Continued Presence in Iraq
Monday 02 June 2008
»
by: Walter Pincus, The Washington Post
http://www.truthout.org/article/long-term-contracts-show-plans-continued-iraq-occupation
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StratRat Says:
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Keltoi Says:
I think this indicates that Al-Maliki has increased faith in the Iraqi military since they cracked down on the militia elements in Basra. The Iraqi government won’t show us the door til they are sure they are safe from their domestic enemies. That means a security force that is loyal and effective.
Your post is only partially correct. As we prop up the Malaki regime, he is making millions and millions of dollars. Those around Malaki are also raiding our US Treasury gravy train.
Malaki needs us to protect he and his cronys, all the while playing lip service to strengthening his military hold on power. Malaki’s allegiance sits within himself and nobody else.
Agreed, though my point was that he must have growing confidence in his ability to protect the nest he has feathered for he and his without our help if he is not rolling over and playing dead on this SOF agreement.
In his heart of hearts, I wonder who HE is hoping will win the US election?
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:01 pmThe talks have angered many Iraqis who suspect the United States, which led the 2003 invasion of Iraq and has around 155,000 troops in the country, of wanting to keep a permanent presence there.
Exactly who doesn’t realize the war was always about keeping a permanent presence there?
http://progressiveworldreview.com
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:02 pmOh, my. I wonder if Kilo’s heard about this (from C&L):
Meanwhile, the Australian Broadcast Corp. reported June 1 that a legal brief has been sent to the International Criminal Court alleging Howard committed a war crime by sending troops to Iraq. A loose alliance of peace activists, lawyers, academics and politicians is behind the brief, organized by the ICC Action Group, based in Melbourne.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:04 pmKeltoi,
This doesn’t make sense. Are you trying to say that because Maliki has more confidence in the Iraqi military (aka Badr Corps) that he will need to push the SOFA agreement with the US further? I would think that if he had more confidence in his military that he would be asking us to leave, not negotiate a long-term agreement. But, then again, the United Iraqi Alliance has always opposed the continued presence of the coalition.
Perhaps the Dawa Party and SCIRI are putting pressure on Maliki? Or perhaps the Sadrist Trend, who founded the Dawa party is putting pressure on Maliki, since he is their secretary-general? Then again, maybe they are just trying to run out the clock.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:06 pmThis will not help the corporate war for perpetual profits! And why haven’t they got those oil laws signed yet? The ones that hand over 88% of the profits to Republican Big Oil companies? This is not the way our Dear Leader envisioned this Iraq democracy.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:08 pmnevermind – you clarified in post #12. Thanks.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:08 pmJune 3rd, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Chris L Says:
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Keltoi,
This doesn’t make sense. Are you trying to say that because Maliki has more confidence in the Iraqi military (aka Badr Corps) that he will need to push the SOFA agreement with the US further? I would think that if he had more confidence in his military that he would be asking us to leave, not negotiate a long-term agreement. But, then again, the United Iraqi Alliance has always opposed the continued presence of the coalition.
Hm! Well, I was assuming that we were negotiating for more US troops permenantly based there and he was arguing for less. We are going to have some troops there, I figured he was uncomfortable with a high number because 1.) it is unpopular and 2.) he doesn’t control them, so they are an impediment to his power and possible corruption.
Perhaps the Dawa Party and SCIRI are putting pressure on Maliki? Or perhaps the Sadrist Trend, who founded the Dawa party is putting pressure on Maliki, since he is their secretary-general? Then again, maybe they are just trying to run out the clock.
If there is one thing that unites the Shiites of all stripes, it is a desire to see the US out. They are just trying to figure out how to use the US against each other in the most skillful way. But as always in Iraq, there are wheels withing wheels and nothing is as it seems on the surface.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:11 pmKeltoi Says:
But as always in Iraq, there are wheels withing wheels and nothing is as it seems on the surface.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Kind of like in the US.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:14 pmKeltoi Says:
Agreed, though my point was that he must have growing confidence in his ability to protect the nest he has feathered for he and his without our help if he is not rolling over and playing dead on this SOF agreement.
Your point is valid. Agreed. As to who he is ‘voting for’, I don’t know. McCain should scare him due to McCains temper, impatience, and instability. Hillary, probably almost the same as McCain. Interesting question, Keltoi.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:16 pm——————————————————————————–
Zooey Says:
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Keltoi Says:
But as always in Iraq, there are wheels withing wheels and nothing is as it seems on the surface.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Kind of like in the US.
Yeah! But as a native it is a bit easier to figure out.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:19 pmDr. Hussein Matt Says:
Hey, Iraq, how about giving us some oil you ungrateful fing dolts.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Pshah. Seriously. I mean, we only invaded their country illegally, killed 1.2 million of their people, displaced another 2.5 million people, ruined their agriculture with cluster bomblets and depleted uranium, decimated their industrial sector with unrestricted imports, made millions of former soldiers and Ba’athists unemployed, and unleashed a five-front civil war for them.
You’d think those Iraqis would show us just a smidge of gratitude!
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:20 pmThe Iraqi government MISSING a deadline or a benchmark (remember those?)?
Do tell.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:22 pmKeltoi Says:
Yeah! But as a native it is a bit easier to figure out.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I imagine it works the same for Iraqi natives.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:24 pmStratRat Says:
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Keltoi Says:
Agreed, though my point was that he must have growing confidence in his ability to protect the nest he has feathered for he and his without our help if he is not rolling over and playing dead on this SOF agreement.
Your point is valid. Agreed. As to who he is ‘voting for’, I don’t know. McCain should scare him due to McCains temper, impatience, and instability. Hillary, probably almost the same as McCain. Interesting question, Keltoi.
Well, I would think he and most all foreign leaders would want Obama – more dovish, willing to talk, etc. But then part of me wonders if he doesn’t worry them in the same way he worries American conservatives (and never forget, the Muslim world in general is extremely conservative) i.e. – how do you deal with a Black US President with a Muslim name? There have only ever been white dudes in the job, they are at least the Devil you know – are the rules the same for President one generation our of Africa? Obama is a citizen of the world – does that actually worry foreign leaders on some level?
It is impossible to know, which is why it is such a fun question, but I would have to guess almost no one in the world is rooting for McCain.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:25 pmKeltoi Says:
There have only ever been white dudes in the job, they are at least the Devil you know – are the rules the same for President one generation our of Africa?
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
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Leaders of Muslim countries seem to get along fine with black Presidents and Prime Ministers with Muslim names who are zero generations out of Africa. In fact, many of these Presidents ARE leaders of Muslim countries in Africa. Somehow I don’t think an American President with those attributes will be a problem.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:41 pmA lawmaker from al-Maliki’s party told reporters Tuesday that the Iraqis and the Americans are far apart on the security agreement. He said negotiations “are at a standstill, and the Iraqi side is studying its options.”
“The Americans have some demands that the Iraqi government regards as infringing on its sovereignty,” lawmaker Haidar al-Abadi said. “This is the main dispute, and if the dispute is not settled, I frankly tell you there will not be an agreement.”
snip
Al-Abadi said major stumbling blocks include the future status of U.S. military bases and American use of airspace over Iraq.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:46 pmYou mean they want their OWN country? Not on Darth’s watch. Thankfully, it may be over soon. (**fingers crossed**)
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:54 pmhussein toasterhead Says:
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Keltoi Says:
There have only ever been white dudes in the job, they are at least the Devil you know – are the rules the same for President one generation our of Africa?
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
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Leaders of Muslim countries seem to get along fine with black Presidents and Prime Ministers with Muslim names who are zero generations out of Africa. In fact, many of these Presidents ARE leaders of Muslim countries in Africa. em>
Yeah, but they are kinda part of the same big club, y’know? The “I lead a Third World country please don’t hurt me and do you have any foreign aid for me” club.
You are probably right, it wouldn’t be a problem, but will they look at him and go “Is he one of us?” And if they see him that way, will that make him more difficult for them to deal with or less? Because honestly, I think most of these regimes just laugh at us behind our backs at how ham-handed we are culturally, whichever party is in power. It will make for very interesting international politics.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:55 pmMarie Says:
I also think the Iraqis are simply playing for time, hoping that a new administration will be more honest in dealing with them.
Aren’t we all.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:55 pmWhoops, all italics.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:56 pmIraq’s best defense has always been patience.
They’ve ‘waited out’ numerous invasions over the centuries, & it’s worked for them every time.
Americans see political power in terms of 4-8 years.
Iraqis see political power paired with religion in eons.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:01 pmCall for Musharraf treason trial
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:08 pmBBC News – 56 minutes ago
By M Ilyas Khan One of Pakistan’s most powerful political leaders, Nawaz Sharif, has demanded the trial and resignation of President Pervez Musharraf for treason.
Nawaz wants Muhsarraf to be tried for treason over Kargil misadventure DailyIndia.com
Sharif cleared to contest Pakistan by-election: official AFP
Press Trust of India – GulfNews – The News – International -
Excellent point Zimzone @ 34. They also have terribly long memories to go with the “political power paired with religion in eons”.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:24 pm