Iraq's prime minister won't sign U.S. troop deal

[babylonsister]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

Iraq's prime minister won't sign U.S. troop deal
By Roy Gutman | McClatchy Newspapers


BAGHDAD — Fearing political division in the parliament and in his country, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki won't sign the just-completed agreement on the status of U.S. forces in Iraq, a leading lawmaker said Friday.

The new accord's demise would be a major setback for the Bush administration, which has been seeking to establish a legal basis for the extended presence of the 151,000 U.S. troops in this country, and for Iraq, which won notable concessions in the draft accord reached a week ago.

"No, he will not" submit the agreement to the parliament, Sheikh Jalal al Din al Sagheer, the deputy head of the Shiite Muslim Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, told McClatchy. "For this matter, we need national consensus."

Instead, Sagheer said, Iraq's political leaders are considering seeking an extension of the United Nations mandate for the presence of U.S. troops, which will expire on Dec. 31. Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, has assured Iraq that it wouldn't veto an extension, he said, adding that one was likely to last between six months and a year.

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Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/54757.html

[bemildred]

1. Stall, stall, stall.

It's almost like they have learned our methods.

[babylonsister]

2. It could turn out to be a good thing for everyone. Let someone with

some common sense (fingers crossed) start unraveling this mess.

[bemildred]

3. Now Sis, I'm not suggesting it's bad.

Letting Iraqis run their own affairs is good. Fundamentally good. Good in a way that you don't get better than in this world. My attitude is more like Charlie Chan in one of his movies: "Ah, you are surprised I speak your language, eh?" The Iraqis know that they are the ones in a position to stall, who need to stall. That's good.

[babylonsister]

5. I know you weren't, bemildred, and I haven't heard the name Charlie

Chan in ages! I used to watch those flicks in my youth. Ah, memories...course, that could be because there wasn't much else on?!

[dudewheresmycountry]

6. kewl

this is again, Iraq standing up to the US and that's the way it should be. Six years of blood and money, is long enough come on home troops and be welcomed with open arms.

[azurnoir]

4. Beat me to it

apparently they read the polls too

[Nambe]

7. They told bush 2 months ago, no treaty before the election.

No Lame Duck Treaty.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Bur al Malaki was bought and paid for !!!

Was is the world coming to when you can't trust your own puppets?

[ACTION BASTARD]

9. They seem to have learned their lessons well. However, the question now is

Is the student ready to become the teacher?

[babylonsister]

10. Learned their lessons well, like the concept that they might not

want U.S. soldiers roaming around who may or may not be encouraging people to join Al Qaeda?

If they had 'learned their lesson' they'd be signing the agreement.

[smurfysmurf]

11. The Iraqi PM will wait for Obama

to withdraw troops at a faster pace. I'd do the same thing.

[LynnTheDem]

12. Excellent!

IRAQ for IRAQIS; occupiers go home!

[Poseidan]

13. no national consensus?

Ain't democracy grand...