Sunday, December 18, 2011
Iraqis celebrate US exit, but worry for future
Baghdad, Even as Iraqis celebrated the departure of the last American troops Sunday, the dangers left behind after nearly nine years of war were on full display. Politicians feuded along the country's potentially explosive sectarian lines and the drumbeat of deadly violence went on.
The last U.S. convoy rumbled out of Iraq across the border into Kuwait around sunrise under a shroud of secrecy to prevent attacks on the departing troops. When news reached a waking Iraqi public, there was joy at the end of a presence that many Iraqis resented as a foreign occupation.
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In the northern city of Mosul, pastry shop owner Muhannad Adnan said he had a swell of orders for cakes — up to 110 from the usual 70 or so a day — as families threw parties at home. Some asked him to ice the cakes with inscriptions of "congratulations for the end of occupation," he said.
But the happiness was shot through with worries over the future.
"Nobody here wants occupation. This withdrawal marks a new stage in Iraq's history," said Karim al-Rubaie, a Shiite shopowner in the southern city of Basra. But, he said, "the politicians who are running this country are just a group of thieves."
"These politicians will lead the country into sedition and civil war. Iraq now is like a weak prey among neighboring beasts."
In the morning, a bomb hidden under a pile of trash exploded on a street of spare car parts stores in a mainly Shiite district of eastern Baghdad, killing two people and wounding four others. It was the latest in the near daily shootings and bombings — low-level but still deadly — that continue to bleed the country and that many fear will increase with the Americans gone.
Violence is far lower than it was at the worst of the Iraq War, in 2006 and 2007, when Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias preyed on Iraqis around the country in a vicious sectarian conflict that nearly turned into complete civil war. But those armed groups still remain, and there are deep concerns whether Iraqi security forces are capable of keeping them in check without the help of U.S. troops.
Iraq's military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Babaker Zebari said Sunday that his troops were up to the task of uprooting militant groups.
"There are only scattered terrorists hiding here and there and we are seeking intelligence information to eliminate them," Zebari said. "We are confident that there will be no danger."
Equally worrying, the resentments and bitterness between the Shiite majority and Sunni minority in this country of nearly 30 million remain unhealed. The fear is that without the hand of American forces, the fragile attempts to get the two sides to work together could collapse and even turn to greater violence.
In an escalation of the rivalry, the main Sunni-backed political bloc on Sunday announced it was boycotting parliament to protest what they called Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's attempts to monopolize government positions — particularly those overseeing the powerful security forces. The bloc has complained of security forces' recent arrests of Sunnis that it says are "unjustified."
The Iraqiya bloc warned that it could take the further step of pulling its seven ministers out of al-Maliki's coalition government.
"We are against the concentration of security powers in the hands of one person, that is the prime minister," said Sunni lawmaker Hamid al-Mutlaq, a member of the bloc.
Sunnis have long feared domination by the country's Shiites, who vaulted to power after the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein at the hands of the Americans. The rivalry was exacerbated by the years of sectarian killing.
The Iraqiya bloc narrowly won the most seats in last year's parliamentary election. But its leader Ayad Allawi was unable to become prime minister, outmaneuvered by al-Maliki, who kept the premier's post after cobbling together key support from Shiite parties.
That has left al-Maliki beholden to Shiite factions, including those led by radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose militiamen were blamed for sectarian killings during the worst of Iraq's violence. Since forming his new government, al-Maliki has effectively controlled the Interior and Defense Ministries, which oversee the police and military, while conflicts between Sunni and Shiite politicians have delayed the appointment of permanent ministers.
Many on both sides of the sectarian divide also worry that neighboring Shiite-led powerhouse Iran will now increase its influence in their country. Al-Maliki's party and other Shiite blocs have close ties to Tehran. But even some in the Shiite public resent the idea of Iranian domination.
"I am afraid that this occupation will be replaced by indirect occupation by some neighboring countries," said Ali Rahim, a 40-year-old Shiite who works for the Electricity Ministry.
Omar Waadalla Younis, a senior at Mosul University, said at first he was happy to hear the last Americans were gone and thought the city government should hold celebrations in the streets. Then he thought of the possible threat from Iran.
"Now that the Americans have left, Iraq is more vulnerable than before."
link
December 18, 2011
Last U.S. troops leave Iraq, ending war
Baghdad, The last convoy of U.S. soldiers pulled out of Iraq on Sunday, ending nearly nine years of war that cost almost 4,500 American and tens of thousands of Iraqi lives and left a country still grappling with political uncertainty.
The war launched in March 2003 with missiles striking Baghdad to oust dictator Saddam Hussein closes with a fragile democracy still facing insurgents, sectarian tensions and the challenge of defining its place in the Arab region.
The final column of around 100 mostly U.S. military MRAP armored vehicles carrying 500 U.S. troops trundled across the southern Iraq desert through the night along an empty highway and across the Kuwaiti border.
Honking their horns, the last batch of around 25 American military trucks and tractor trailers carrying Bradley fighting vehicles crossed the border early on Sunday, their crews waving at fellow troops along the route.
"I just can't wait to call my wife and kids and let them know I am safe," Rodolfo Ruiz said as the border came into sight. Soon afterwards, he told his men the mission was over, "Hey guys, you made it."
For President Barack Obama, the military pullout is the fulfillment of an election promise to bring troops home from a conflict inherited from his predecessor, the most unpopular war since Vietnam and one that tainted America's standing worldwide.
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For Iraqis, the U.S. departure brings a sense of sovereignty but feeds nagging fears their country may slide once again into the kind of sectarian violence that killed thousands of people at its peak in 2006-2007.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shi'ite-led government still struggles with a delicate power-sharing arrangement between Shi'ite, Kurdish and Sunni parties, leaving Iraq vulnerable to meddling by Sunni Arab nations and Shi'ite Iran.
The intensity of violence and suicide bombings has subsided. But a stubborn Sunni Islamist insurgency and rival Shi'ite militias remain a threat, carrying out almost daily attacks, often on Iraqi government and security officials.
Iraq says its forces can contain the violence but they lack capabilities in areas such as air defense and intelligence gathering. A deal for several thousand U.S. troops to stay on as trainers fell apart over the sensitive issue of legal immunity.
For many Iraqis security remains a worry - but no more than jobs and getting access to power in a country whose national grid provides only a few hours of electricity a day despite massive oil potential in the OPEC country.
"We don't think about America... We think about electricity, jobs, our oil, our daily problems," said Abbas Jaber, a government employee in Baghdad. "They left chaos."
After Obama announced in October that troops would come home by the end of the year as scheduled, the number of U.S. military bases was whittled down quickly as hundreds of troops and trucks carrying equipment headed south to the Kuwaiti border.
U.S. forces, which had ended combat missions in 2010, paid $100,000 a month to tribal sheikhs to secure stretches of the highways leading south to reduce the risk of roadside bombings and attacks on the last convoys.
At the height of the war, more than 170,000 U.S. troops were in Iraq at more than 500 bases. By Saturday, there were fewer than 3,000 troops, and one base.
At COB Adder, as dusk fell before the departure of the last convoy, one group of soldiers slapped barbecue sauce on slabs of ribs brought in from Kuwait and laid them on grills alongside hotdogs and sausages.
The last troops flicked on the lights studding their MRAP vehicles and stacked flak jackets and helmets in neat piles, ready for the final departure for Kuwait and then home.
"A good chunk of me is happy to leave. I spent 31 months in this country," said Sgt. Steven Schirmer, 25, after three tours of Iraq since 2007. "It almost seems I can have a life now, though I know I am probably going to Afghanistan in 2013. Once these wars end I wonder what I will end up doing."
U.S. and foreign companies are already helping Iraq develop the vast potential of the world's fourth-largest oil reserves, but its economy needs investment in all sectors, from hospitals to infrastructure.
Iran and Turkey, major investors in Iraq, will be watching with Gulf nations to see how it handles its sectarian and ethnic tensions, as the crisis in neighboring Syria threatens to spill over its borders.
The fall of Saddam allowed the long-suppressed Shi'ite majority to rise to power. The Shi'ite-led government has drawn the country closer to neighboring Iran and Syria's Bashar al-Assad, who is struggling to put down a nine-month uprising.
Iraq's Sunni minority are chafing under what they see as the
increasingly authoritarian control of Maliki's Shi'ite coalition. Some local leaders are already pushing mainly Sunni provinces to demand more autonomy from Baghdad.
The main Sunni political bloc Iraqiya said on Saturday that it was temporarily suspending its participation in the parliament to protest against what it said was Maliki's unwillingness to deliver on power-sharing.
A dispute between the semi-autonomous Kurdish region and Maliki's central government over oil and territory is also brewing, and is a potential flashpoint after the buffer of the American military presence is gone.
"There is little to suggest that Iraq's government will manage -- or be willing to -- get itself out of the current stalemate," said Gala Riani, an analyst at IHS Global Insight.
"The perennial divisive issues that have become part of the fabric of Iraqi politics, such as divisions with Kurdistan and Sunni suspicions of the government, are also likely to persist."
link
17/12/2011
Twentieth American company expressed interest in investing in Iraq
Maliki: the second phase of our relationship with the U.S. side of a civil nature
BAGHDAD - Al Sabah Al »Sabah» More than 20 companies known U.S. expressed interest in investing in Iraq during the visit of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to the United States last week. and announced that the Iraqi embassy in Washington on Wednesday the past, that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries amounts to about $15 billion annually.
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The source said in a telephone interview with »Sabah» Wednesday: The «car companies and electrical equipment, heavy equipment and companies for the production of energy is currently studying to enter the Iraqi market». Al-Maliki said after the his talks with U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday that bilateral relations will not end with the withdrawal of U.S. forces, while Obama noted that his country would be close to and support for Iraq after the withdrawal. Maliki said in a speech he delivered at the American Chamber of Commerce: The «Our partnership with the United States during the period the last would be supportive of future partnership , stressing that Iraq is on the threshold of new relations will not be invalidated, the military and the generals, but will be entrepreneurs and companies. He renewed support for the Iraqi government to make a lot of privileges and encouraging decisions to enter the Iraqi market by conducting the necessary amendments to the legislation and laws related to investment . The Prime Minister returned to Baghdad on Tuesday evening, concluding his third visit to the United States. He said al-Maliki before leaving Washington, We look forward to strengthening bilateral relations with the United States through the strategic framework agreement. He said during his meeting with a group of Iraqi community located in the United States «on the Iraqi community to be represented by us in maintaining the relationship will be with the United States, considering that the next stage will be different from the previous, indicating that the relationship in the past was mostly of a military character and security, now and after the close of U.S. forces to complete its withdrawal from Iraq , although some doubt, we find that the second phase of the strategic framework agreement will be implemented soon after the completion of the withdrawal end of this month.link
14/12/2011
Zebari, Clinton underline commitment to the strategic framework and a tribute to the specific results of the Prime Minister's visit to Washington
The Chief Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Iraq's access to sophisticated U.S. weapons during the next year.
According to one senior source "morning", the "al-Maliki succeeded in his talks with U.S. President Barack Obama to convince the latter with the support Iraq's demands in this area." Said the source who requested anonymity: "The prime minister did not give any promises of Obama on the issues immunity and common positions towards regional issues. "and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and U.S. President Barack Obama is turning the page after the military withdrawal and the start of a new phase of relations and cooperation between the two countries.
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And al-Maliki and Obama agreed during a meeting between them in the White House in Washington on Tuesday evening, the continuation of cooperation in the war against terrorism and the activation of the strategic framework agreement of all its provisions.
The source continued: "It is in addition to the purchase order aircraft f16,, Maliki is trying to get air defenses advanced mid-2012, and the heavy guns and drones, wheels and systems control modern." In Washington, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Iraq's commitment to partnership standing with the United States in all areas. Zebari said during a joint press conference with Clinton at the State Department: "Iraq is committed to partnership standing with the United States on the basis of an agreement the strategic framework," noting that "This agreement is very comprehensive because it provides the two countries' mutual cooperation in the future in many areas ".
Zebari said that "the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq does not mean the withdrawal of presence, friendship and American influence," asserting that "the relationship with the two countries will continue, but in different forms." By contrast, said U.S.
Secretary of State: that "a new chapter in relations between Iraq and the United States will open in part of the strategic framework agreement, "asserting that" the two countries are going through in the days where complete historical withdrawal of U.S. troops and identify new partnership with free and democratic Iraq. "
She said Clinton, "The Framework Agreement Strategic will provide a roadmap strong for us to work together at the highest levels," pointing out that "there are challenges ahead but we will face together as partners Strutegeyn and friends." He said U.S.
Secretary of State that "the United States will continue to stand with Iraq and to work with the people and the Iraqi government to build a stable, secure and prosperous. "The United States announced the U.S. yesterday, they agreed to double the number of aircraft of the model (F-16) to be sold to Iraq in conjunction with a visit by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to the United States."
A spokesman for U.S. National Security Council Tommy Vietor: "The management of the White House told the U.S. Congress plans to sell 18 aircraft (F-16) to Iraq as the second payment of the aircraft," noting that "This deal reflects the progress made by Iraq to ensure its security and its determination to protect the sovereignty and independence. "
The Prime Minister yesterday to the United States at the head of a ministerial delegation, including ministers of transport Hadi al-Amiri, trade Khairallah Babiker, culture, and Defense Agency Saadoun al-Dulaimi, and national security adviser, Faleh Al-Fayad and President of the National Investment Commission Sami Raouf Al-Araji, in addition to the chief advisor Thamer Abbas Ghadban and media advisor to the President Minister Ali al-Moussawi. It is expected to continue Iraq's relationship with the United States during the next phase in what is known as the strategic framework agreement which provides for the exchange and partnership between the two countries in economic, diplomatic, cultural, judicial and security.
In Baghdad, MP Abbas al-Bayati said the prime minister made a successful visit to Washington, especially in the economic and investment in the area of the field to establish the rules and foundations of the relationship of strategic long-term cooperation between the two countries and on the basis of interest and on the basis of exchange esteemed. Al-Bayati said "morning", said the results of Maliki's visit to Washington during the next year will appear in the form of investment projects in the U.S. and the contribution of infrastructure and reconstruction of Iraq and in the form of agreements between many of the ministries, and most service.
And al-Bayati said "the partnership of strategic Iraq - the U.S. will carry the relationship between the two sides and the two countries to the advanced levels of cooperation, coordination and joint action, and here, Maliki has for Iraq accomplishment and important asset when it ended U.S. military presence through peaceful negotiations injected a lot of blood," referring to the that the rules of the partnership will be more of Iraq from the American side because we need the expertise and advanced technology to modernize Iraq's institutions and move it to the ranks of modern states.
link
December 13, 2011
Hassoun Fatlawi: U.S. withdrawal paves the way for removing Iraq from Chapter VII of its citizens and bring prestige and riches ruled by
Babylon, MP for the mass of citizens Hassoun Fatlawi that "paves the way for U.S. withdrawal removing Iraq from Chapter VII of its citizens and bring prestige and governed by the natural riches."
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The MP said Hassoun Fatlawi told all of Iraq [where] said Tuesday that "the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq is a confirmation of the importance of independence and its future role in the region and the Islamic world."
He added that he "should resolve the conflicts and disputes between the political blocs that would cut the road in front of trying to derail the Iraqi experiment in democracy."
The country is going to withdraw all U.S. troops by the end of this year, according to the security agreement concluded by the government with the United States in 2008, which stipulates that the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the territory, airspace and waters of Iraq no later than [31] of December 2011.link
13/12/2011
Maliki and Obama announce the start of the stage of strategic cooperation
Confirmed not to remain any U.S. troops after 2011, and agreed to continue coordination in the fight against terrorism
BAGHDAD - Al Sabah
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and U.S. President Barack Obama is turning the page the military after the withdrawal and the start of a new phase of relations and cooperation between the two countries.
It was agreed that al-Maliki and Obama during a meeting between them in White House in Washington yesterday evening, on the continuation of cooperation in the war against terrorism and the activation of the strategic framework agreement of all its provisions.
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The Prime Minister arrived yesterday evening to Washington at the head of a delegation comprising a number of ministers and advisers in the government. The Prime Minister said after the meeting, which took more than an hour: "We discussed the development of U.S. companies in Iraq and the issue of trainers, experts and mechanics of movement and protection in Iraq, in addition to the one-armed, where Iraq needs more weapons, especially with regard to planes have been asked to buy a meal seconds planes f 16, and we hope that the request is approved.
Maliki said in a joint press conference with U.S. President that "Baghdad and Washington have agreed to cooperate in the fields of education, agricultural and industrial investment in the area and the fight against terrorism and the exchange of information, and Iraq needs a political cooperation in matters of joint."
And detection al-Maliki for a second meeting of the Higher Committee between the two countries in Washington to launch a strategic framework agreement, announcing the opening lines of direct communication between the consultants and security experts from both sides.
And on the crisis, the Syrian prime minister warned of a plunge Syria into a war of sectarian influence in Iraq, saying: "I can not ask the Syrian president to step down or interfere affairs of Syria, have agreed on a new initiative may be the initiative of the last minute without being reflected on the region," stressing that "there is acceptance by the opposition to search for solutions calm the region."
For his part, said the U.S. president: "The withdrawal of our troops from Iraq is a historic moment." He said Obama, who was speaking as he looks to Maliki: U.S. troops will leave Iraq the last few days and will not keep any troops or bases or the presence of U.S. military ..
You have achieved achievement, Iraq, a sovereign state and we view them as a partner strategic long-term. "He added by saying:" We have begun a new phase of relations and we will support Iraq's everything we could not stay alone, in reference to al-Maliki, the United States with you and we will support all efforts of the good.
"Said Obama: "We will cooperate in the areas of security, especially trained and equipped, and we will support the areas of agriculture, health and investment and we have substantial investments in Iraq, yes, that our soldiers have left, but our diplomats and embassy and we will continue to support, and equal partnership on according to the mutual respect between the two countries Siadean."
With regard to the number of staff American Embassy, who described surnamed the Great, Obama said: "This number reflects the status of work assigned to it in Iraq." The president also stressed the U.S. that Iraq has become a model emulated in the region as a whole. and on the Syrian file, Obama acknowledged that Prime Minister Maliki made the decision "the right "about his opposition to the blockade and sanctions, though he said:" The American vision is somewhat different, "stressing that he is confident that the decisions Maliki serve the interest of the Iraqi High because he is a neighboring country of Syria.
It is scheduled to participate Maliki, with U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, in a ceremony special to put a wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier tomb of "Arlington" National, Virginia, and will deliver a lecture in one of the institutes and the U.S. meet the Iraqi community there, in addition to attending an economic conference with the participation of major U.S. companies.
link
Snip ~ According to government sources, the Maliki's visit will focus on the protection of Iraqi funds in and out of Chapter VII and the development of Iraq's banking transactions. 12/12/2011
Government in Baghdad: 22 U.S. company decides to enter the Iraqi market Baghdad, The Iraqi government said on Monday that 22 companies will enter the U.S. to work in Iraq to carry out infrastructure projects.
The Economic Adviser peace Quraishi, told the Kurdish news agency (Rn) announced today that "the Iraqi government received pledges from the U.S. embassy in Baghdad to enter the U.S. 22 companies worldwide to work in Iraq in the implementation of infrastructure projects in the governorates of Iraq."
"The six companies in building residential complexes and six companies in the implementation of infrastructure projects and installation of power stations and four companies in the field of medicine and two in the field of education and three companies in the industry and the development of enterprises and companies in the area of university service."
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He Quraishi said "booming strategic projects will be awarded to U.S. companies because of their experience and scientific implementation through direct calls after the adoption of legal and administrative measures necessary to ensure that there is no corruption in the selection process for foreign companies."
"The large size of the staff at the American Embassy, which reached to 15 thousand employees, aims to expand trade between Baghdad and Washington, and expanding the role of U.S. companies in the reconstruction of Iraq after the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, the full end of the month."
And visit, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki at the head of a ministerial delegation, and the Washington Post for details of the protection of Iraqi funds and enhance their role in the development of banks and the expansion of trade between Baghdad and Washington.
Iraq has signed and the United States in 2008, the strategic framework agreement to support the Iraqi ministries and agencies in the transition from the strategic partnership with the Republic of Iraq to the areas of economic, diplomatic, cultural and security.
The agreement states that it should withdraw all U.S. forces from all territory and waters and airspace of Iraq no later than December 31 / December.
And decided to U.S. President Barack Obama in the May / May this year to extend the protection of Iraqi funds in the United States for another year.
According to government sources, the Maliki's visit will focus on the protection of Iraqi funds in and out of Chapter VII and the development of Iraq's banking transactions.
link
Monday, 12/12/2011
Maliki to obtain written assurances from Washington to achieve sovereignty for Iraq
Baghdad, Stressed Edolgna Foreign Relations parliamentary and MP / coalition in Iraq / Zala Alinvtja, that the Nuri al-Maliki to obtain written assurances from Washington, Iraq to get full sovereignty after the American withdrawal.
The Alinvtja in a statement (the Agency news) on Monday: assumed to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's trip to the United States to get some guarantees written Kalatvakiet Aoualemaahdat that Iraq will Flaaly full sovereignty after the American withdrawal.
and explained a member of the Foreign Relations Committee that the safeguards include non-survival of corporate foreign protection in Iraq, and remained so limited in number and well-known place not affect the sovereignty of Iraq, noting that the future relationship between Iraq and America based on respect for the parties and based on respect for the two countries.
For his part, member of the Foreign Relations Committee, the parliamentary deputy / National Alliance / Yassin Majid visit by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his accompanying delegation him to Washington as "historic."
said Majid, who is accompanying Maliki to visit him in a telephone call (News): during a break in the delegation in London to visit the United States would be historic, because of their impact is great, comes after the American withdrawal from Iraq, as the reality of Iraqi forces now are running the security file, and the U.S. withdrawal almost completely.
The glorious: that the visit will establish a strong relationship and future with the United States, especially that Iraq will enter a new phase in its history next year.
link
13/12/2011
Maliki is ready to confront the militias backed by Iran
New York Times Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki that he would face and strongly condemned any Iranian interference in Iraq after the departure of U.S. forces. and he said in an interview with the Wall Street before his official visit to Washington, that Iraq's interest to busy State mind its own business and move away from interfering in its affairs.
He said, "If he has an excuse Iran is the presence of U.S. troops on Iraqi soil is a threat to national security of Iran, that this threat has ended, and ended with him all the ideas and calculations and potential interference in the affairs of Iraq under any name other. "hoped to meet with Maliki, President Barack Obama at the White House in an attempt to reassure the West about Iraq's independence and stability after the United States ended a war that lasted nine years, claimed the lives of at least one hundred thousand Iraqis and four thousand and five hundred U.S. military according to statistics from the Pentagon last year, and spent the United States by about a trillion dollars.
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Maliki - who remains were crucial in Iraq and the region as a whole - walking on a tightrope between Alnfoven the U.S. and Iran, since he took office in 2006 at the height of the sectarian war in Iraq. While Maliki wants a relationship strategy of strong long-term relationship with the United States, there are limits to its continuation without anti some of the partners in his coalition government and backed by Iran - and anti-of Backed in Tehran. says one senior Iraqi officials said al-Maliki has not been able to ensure the cycle of re-election without that provides a specific commitment to Iran and their Iraqi allies, and is "out of U.S. troops from Iraq."
During the interview that took place last Friday, Maliki said he feels today more worried about the strong role played by Turkey in Iraq and in the area, but the warning is rare Iran aims to calm the fears of senior U.S. officials and allies of the United States from the Gulf Arabs that Iraq will fall into the arms of Iran with the other exit of American troops late this month.
these fears proved more with the intensification of the conflict in Syria, which subjected Iraq to strong pressure to be at her side. He used the regime of President Bashar al-Assad Mahalv Iran brute force in the face of the popular uprising and now faces opposition supported by many Arab countries, Turkey and the West.
Maliki said during the interview that Iraq's interest to non-interference in Syrian affairs, and offered to Iraq to mediate, as opposed foreign military action there and said that Iraq did not agree on the economic boycott proposed by the Arab League against Damascus, fearing to be a repeat of the experience of Iraq, which have been instrumental in the deteriorating situation of the region.
In response to the criticism that accuses him of supporting the Assad regime, Maliki said that he supports the demands of Syrian people in democracy, freedom, elections, "we support them with all our hearts." and revealed Mr. Maliki that he sent a personal envoy to Mr. Assad last month urging him to initiate reforms real and hold a national dialogue real on the ground, the Syrian response was al-Assad was ready for it. Maliki was compared with the horrors of Iraq under Saddam, he said, "We share the view that the war on Iraq and the disaster that followed were not to get you if that Saddam had the reforms."
Today ends the war that began in 2003, the U.S. military now hand over the tasks of the Foreign Ministry that will lead foreign mission than 16 thousand people including security contractors. Officials say the Americans, they will train the police and the Iraqi armed forces at the same time are developing financial institutions, judicial, agricultural and other . and warned the U.S. military commander in Iraq, Gen. Lloyd Austin, that Iran is supporting militias in Iraq for control of power as Hezbollah did in Lebanon.
For its part, Iran has denied supporting the militias or to seek a role in the political affairs of Iraq. At the same time warned Gen. Austin and the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, James Jeffrey is seeking armed groups linked to al Qaeda and other loyalists of the Saddam regime to increase freedom of action after the departure of the Americans, especially in the north where it competes central government with the Kurdistan region on earth and oil.
Maliki has suggested that has the ability to pressure Iran to end its interference in Iraq after the expulsion of members of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran opposition with UN help end the current year, where he said "no longer to Iran excuse to interfere in Iraqi affairs directly or through some of the blocs and parties."
He said he was ready to face the Iranian-backed militias again if necessary, as it did during the campaign Charge of the Knights in 2008. "The Iraqi security forces capable of defeating any party or militia bear arms."
But in a world of Iraqi politics divided - which was built after the American invasion, elections and quotas of ethnic and sectarian fragile - the Mr. Maliki appeared to his rivals and allies as someone who plays tug of war between Iran and the United States over the years to keep his job and control of security forces.
The selection of Maliki as prime minister in 2006 a compromise, and received a course a second term after the election winding and the process of forming a government lasted for about ten months. and he had to turn to the Sadr movement in order to adhere to the premiership, and then entered in uneasy alliance with the blocks Sunni and Kurdish in a deal sponsored by the United States.
in a separate interview this month that called Iyad Allawi, the main challenger to the owners of last year's election, the political process in Iraq as a failure, but said that the withdrawal of which is not the right solution, he said "will not break down the government because it backed by Iran and America."
reflection of the obligations of the complex political, has taken Maliki, a tough stance when asked if there was agreement on the final size of the mission of American diplomacy in Iraq and the possibility of survival of some military trainers Americans after the withdrawal of troops. He will not stay in Iraq more than 700 coach and will not enjoy legal immunity which led to the failure of negotiations between the two sides. Al-Maliki added, "We are dealing diplomatically with the United States now, us and them what they are us.. If a thousand people stay in Iraq, we will keep people in America, and if we will open consulates tenth opened like ten."
Read more: link
December 8, 2011
U.S. Congress - discuss Ashraf
U.S. Congress - Ashraf discuss the joint meeting of the Sub-Committee for monitoring and investigation
And the Subcommittee for the Middle East and Central Asia
Ministry of Foreign Affairs hearing on Ashraf
The Washington Times, 8 December 2011
American legislators, Republicans and Democrats Demanding the Iraqi government to postpone the deadline to close Ashraf
Republican lawmakers called on the Iraqi government and the Democrats to postpone the deadline to close Ashraf. Warned a senior source in the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday Iraq's use of violence to take out opponents of the Iranian refugee camp north of the day after the end of this month.
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While the accused a senior member of Congress and the State Department that the movement to prevent what he described as the process of extermination and possible confrontations in Camp Ashraf Xrah helix. Ambassador Daniel Fried special adviser to Secretary Hillary Clinton on Camp Ashraf during a hearing of the Subcommittee of Congress: «There is no doubt that the situation is serious and we are concerned about possible acts of violence and we are working with all we can to prevent it».
The New York Times -8 December 2011
Lawmakers are demanding the removal of Iranian group from the list And demanding the U.S. government commitment to ensure the safety of the residents of Ashraf
March Republican lawmakers on Wednesday to pressure on Obama to remove Iranian opposition movement PMOI from its list and to take further measures for the resettlement of 3,400 members of the organization are trapped in a camp in Iraq.
The lawmakers pointed to the two attacks by the Iraqi security forces on them, killing dozens of them and they said that the close relationship between the Iraqi government and the Iranian regime's life, Ashraf residents at risk.
Ambassador Daniel Vered, who was recently appointed as a special adviser to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Camp Ashraf to take care of the American efforts in this file, said that the diplomats are busy working to persuade Iraq to keep the Camp Ashraf open to give the United Nations and adequate time for the resettlement of the population in others.link
Monday 12/12/2011
Araji: U.S. companies shall give comfort to reduce administrative red tape
Baghdad / term economic
Forecast Chairman of the National Investment Sami al-Araji, the investment boom in most economic sectors and service sectors.
They said in a press statement: The work is underway to remove all administrative and legal obstacles that stand for the arrival of international companies, pointing out that he will urge U.S. companies to enter Iraq strongly during his visit to Washington with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
He said al-Araji's (Agency news) before his departure to Washington: The Commission understands the requirements of investment business I felt that through its presence in global economic forums and regional and local levels, where they stood at the great desire of international companies in the work, pointing out that international investments have become aware of the size of Iraqi market for all goods and merchandise, in addition to job opportunities that are available in all economic sectors, where there is a market-scale investment in all governorates of Iraq.
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He pointed out that the authority is working to overcome all the determinants of investment business by adapting legislation have, and continued: There is a tendency for the implementation of projects industrial and agricultural support needs of the country, to the housing sector, which suffers problems can be overcome easily, pointing out that the private sector must have a big role in the investment process.
The Araji: he will introduce during his visit to Washington for U.S. companies to enter by force to Iraq, as well as More reassure those companies to reduce administrative red tape of government, and amend the investment law, which will give these facilities investment opportunities, and continued: Sentalam on the situation of investment in Iraq.
The Araji: The foundations of the guarantors of investment available, and there are investment companies large global studying the work environment, and investment business difficult and delicate and needs the protection of investors and their money, pointing out: The focus will be on infrastructure projects such as housing, water, sanitation and electricity in addition to the development of industry, agriculture and tourism.
The international companies in various disciplines studying the projects carefully from all sides, after having started the inviting these companies to come to the country and examine the reality of working closely.
link
Sunday 11-12-2011
Accompanying Al-Maliki. Yasin Majid: Visit historic Washington considers as came after us withdrawal
Baghdad, Description of the parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee and the National Alliance Deputy//Yasin Majid visit by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his Entourage to Washington "historic".
Majid, who was accompanying Al-Maliki visit telephone (News News Agency) on Sunday during a break in London: the visit to the United States will be historic, as they have a great impact, and comes after the US withdrawal from Iraq, where Iraqi forces are now reality of managing file security, us almost complete withdrawal.
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Majid said: this visit will lay the foundations for the future and solid relationships with the United States, especially that Iraq will enter a new phase in its history the next year.
This revealed the National Security Advisor for the generous hospitality Faleh Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his Entourage will be an agreement with the United States on security cooperation and intelligence.
He said in a telephone conversation with generous hospitality (News News Agency) on Sunday during a break in London: a Convention with the United States in the area of security and combating terrorism war, where the Convention will include cooperation between Iraq and America's security and intelligence in the war on terrorism, in terms of exchange of information and other issues.
He noted: the two sides will fight terrorism in Iraq, in accordance with the Convention, without giving further details of generous hospitality.
But he stressed that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his Entourage will discuss all the details of the Convention and the agreement on the items concerning the interests of the people of Iraq and the Iraqi Government.
This is hoped to reach Al-Maliki to Washington in the coming hours visit for several days during which he will meet us President Barack Obama and a number of officials here, and Maliki's visit came after President auzbama inviting them to visit Washington.
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Sunday 11-12-2011
Urgent ... The withdrawal of the NATO mission in Iraq
Baghdad, NATO mission withdrew from Iraq, because not granted judicial immunity trainers from the Iraqi Government.
A source in defense wezrarh (News News Agency) Sunday: NATO mission withdrawn from Iraq, its allies not to give the Iraqi Government judicial immunity for trainers.
Source: the Government informed the NATO mission in the absence of the possibility of granting immunity for trainers which decided to withdraw from Iraq, without mentioning the source details.
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11.12.2011 Iraqi PM Travels To U.S. As Troop Pullout Nears End
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki traveled today to Washington as the U.S. troop withdrawal from his country enters its final days.
Maliki is due to hold wide-ranging talks with U.S. President Barack Obama during his two-day visit, which comes less than a month before the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops who have been based in the country since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
Ali Mussawi, a media adviser to the Iraqi prime minister, said the trip would "open a new phase of relations between Baghdad and Washington."
The U.S. military withdrawal leaves behind an Iraqi security force with more than 900,000troops.
Meanwhile, Iraq's national security adviser says NATO will not extend its training mission in the country beyond the end of the year because Baghdad would not grant its soldiers immunity from prosecution.
Falah al-Fayadh told news agency that Baghdad was informed of the decision on December 8.
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December 11, 2011 Iraq PM, Obama Get Together To Break Apart
Listen to the Story ~ Link
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki comes to Washington Monday to meet with President Obama. They'll discuss the two countries' strategic relationship as U.S. troops move into the final stages of their withdrawal from Iraq.link
December 10, 2011 U.S. troops are on track to leave Iraq before the end of December
U.S. troops are on track to leave Iraq before the end of December, but the U.S. involvement there is anything but over—meaning local resistance to Americans, and the security challenges that come with it, will continue.
In place of the military, the State Department will assume a new role of unprecedented scale, overseeing a massive diplomatic mission through a network of fortified, self-sufficient installations. After the troops have left, the U.S. presence in Iraq—which peaked at 170,000—will number between 15,000 and 16,000, including federal employees and private contractors.
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Federal officials are busily signing hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts for on-site health care, food, protection and other needs, so that American personnel can steer clear of a perilous security situation on Iraq's city streets.
The State Department will hire more than 5,000 private security contractors for armed details and has contracted with a private service to ferry U.S. personnel in helicopters and planes.
The State Department will command four major diplomatic centers and seven other facilities, a total of 11 sites around the country. The tab will be around $3.8 billion for the first year, far above the operating cost of any other U.S. diplomatic mission—but far lower than the more than $40 billion in U.S. spending budgeted for fiscal 2011 in Iraq.
With the new mission, U.S. officials hope to redefine a strategic relationship that has rested for nearly nine years almost solely on war. They say they will work with Iraq's central bankers, justice officials and agriculture experts, while trying to improve its police and armed forces.
The U.S. posture is likely to be controversial within Iraq. The militant cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has called a truce through year-end to allow U.S. troops to leave, but has called on followers to resist the "occupiers" that remain.
U.S. Ambassador James Jeffrey acknowledged the dangers. "If we move out into the Iraqi economy, out into the Iraqi society in any significant way, it will be much harder to protect our people," he said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
Mr. Jeffrey said Iraq still has "significant and highly trained, quite large terrorist groups, with very potent weapons that are trying to target us, and we have to be prepared for that."
The U.S.'s reliance on private security contractors troubles many in Washington, particularly since a 2007 incident in which guards working under a State Department contract opened fire in a crowded Baghdad traffic circle, leaving 17 Iraqis dead.
"The long history of the lack of transparency and accountability and the legal limbo in which these contractors operate mean that it could be a formula for problems," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D., Ill.), a longtime critic of the U.S. government's reliance on contractors overseas.
U.S. officials said they hope eventually to reduce reliance on security contractors, or at least shift to hiring more local guards, as Iraq's security improves.
Meanwhile, officials have awarded a series of contracts, including a $974 million deal to SOC Inc. for a "static guard" force at the Baghdad embassy and a $1.5 billion award to Triple Canopy Inc. to operate diplomatic convoys. DynCorp International Inc., a subsidiary of Tucker Holdings Inc., will run the State Department's air operations.
The four main U.S. diplomatic facilities—the embassy in Baghdad, consulates general in Basra and Irbil and a consulate in Kirkuk—will be comparable in size to important diplomatic posts in other countries, with one crucial difference:
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December 9, 2011
Iraq Withdrawal: After Troops Leave, A Substantial American Presence
Given the ceremonies marking the imminent departure of the last U.S. troops from Iraq, it would be fair to assume that America's nearly decade long entanglement with Iraq is about to come to an end.
The truth is more complicated. While a deal to maintain some American troops in the country collapsed after Iraqi politicians refused to grant the troops immunity from Iraqi law, Iraqi president Nouri al-Maliki has said he is open to negotiating a role for American troops that would likely include helping to train Iraqi security forces.
Al-Maliki Still Sees Need For a U.S. Presence
"The stability of Iraq after the withdrawal of American forces has been a major concern of both our nations," al-Maliki wrote in a Washington Post op-ed. "I believe in the capabilities of our security forces and in the necessity of U.S. assistance."
Whether or not that happens, there will still be a massive diplomatic presence and a small army of contractors to defend them. The State Department has estimated that between 16,000 and 17,000 diplomatic personnel will remain, supported by some 5,500 private security contractors.
That will include the State Department overseeing contractors who are flying helicopters and driving mine-resistant, ambush protected vehicles, or MRAPs. Col. John S. Laskodi, commander of an army brigade tasked with helping the State Department assume control of equipment that includes MRAPs, noted that "the Department of State is establishing its largest mission in its history."
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"Many people have the perception that the United States will have departed Iraq by the end of 2011," Laskodi said. "While the combat mission performed by uniformed military presence will transition, the 402nd Army Field Support Brigade will continue to support our nation's objective of maintaining a stable, strategic partner in the Government of Iraq."
Huge Diplomatic Task, Moving Forward
Officials say that the scope of the continuing diplomatic mission in Iraq, including absorbing contractors who had formerly been overseen by the Department of Defense, is unprecedented.
"The State Department is doing something that quite frankly we have never done before, this is not going to be easy and I think we all understand that," Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Nides told CNN.
Private security forces never received the immunity from Iraqi law that the Obama administration made a prerequisite for American troops remaining. The shooting death of 17 Iraqi civilians by State Department contracted guards working for the firm Blackwater (later renamed Xe) crystallized Iraqi anger and distrust for American hired guns.
A Senate Foreign Relations Committee report analyzing the the transition noted that in the absence of U.S. troops, "civilians,rather than soldiers, are likely to write the last chapter of the American war effort" in Iraq. During a hearing following the report's release, committee chair John Kerry (D-MA) sounded a note of caution about "replacing a military presence with a private mercenary presence."
"The State Department is scheduled to assume full security responsibilities in a still dangerous and unpredictable environment and must strike a difficult balance between maintaining a robust presence and providing a sufficient level of security," the report noted, adding that the State Department would face the dilemma of being able to "effectively operate in difficult security environments without the support of the American military."
The Obama administration is also planning to compensate for the absence of American troops in Iraq by fortifying the U.S. military elsewhere in the Persian Gulf region. That could include pouring more combat forces into Kuwait, where they would be strategically positioned for swift deployment, and sending more naval ships.
"We are kind of thinking of going back to the way it was before we had a big 'boots on the ground' presence," Maj. General Karl R. Horst, Central Command's chief of staff, told The New York Times. "I think it is healthy. I think it is efficient. I think it is practical." link
December, 9, 2011Buchanan: strategic agreement will be the basis of the relationship between Iraq and the United States in the next phase
Revealed a spokesman for U.S. forces, General Jeffrey Buchanan decrease the number of U.S. military bases in Iraq to the four rules only, whereas the number of American soldiers seven thousand and 500 troops.
Iraq's future, General Buchanan in a joint news conference with the spokesman for the U.S. Embassy, "Michael McClellan," that the U.S. military pull out of the four bases before the end of the year.
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For his part, McClellan called the withdrawal of U.S. military and the shift in the relationship between Iraq and the United States the second historical phase, indicating that the Strategic Framework Agreement concluded between the two countries will be the basis of the relationship between them in the next phase.The speakers pointed out that the U.S. side will continue its support to the intelligence agencies by assisting in the access to information to help achieve security, stability and training Iraqi cadres.link
December 9, 2011
Foreign relations representative confirmed that Washington has promised to help Iraq out of Chapter VII
The Commission on Foreign Relations parliamentary, that the United States is now dealing with Iraq as a state with full sovereignty and exercise a positive role towards him in the liquidation of the outstanding issues with Kuwait or Iran.
A member of the Committee not to Talabani, in a press statement that the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq are carried out according to the agreement signed between the governments in Baghdad and Washington and voted on by parliament on behalf of the people.She said Talabani that the United States promised under the strategic agreement concluded with them by helping to get out of Chapter VII after achieving many of its provisions by Iraq, pointing out that relations with America will be within a framework agreement between the two sides in the cultural economic and diplomatic support to civil democratic process. link
Bumped .. another big day:)
November 4, 2011
Iraq leader heading to U.S.
Iraq's prime minister will visit the White House next month, just a couple of weeks before American service members are scheduled to depart from the country.
President Barack Obama will welcome Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on December 12, the White House said Friday.
"The two leaders will hold talks on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the United States and Iraq. The president honors the sacrifices and achievements of all those who have served in Iraq, and of the Iraqi people, to reach this moment full of promise for an enduring U.S.-Iraq friendship," the White House said in a statement.
The United States has until December 31 to withdraw its troops under the Status of Forces Agreement signed between the two countries in 2007. U.S. officials have been in discussions to maintain several thousand trainers and advisers in Iraq, but the two countries were not able to overcome an impasse about granting American troops immunity beyond the withdrawal deadline, prompting Obama to announce last month that no troops would be staying after 2011.
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A U.S. military official familiar with the drawdown plan said a "small number" of troops will remain attached to the U.S. Embassy in a security role, but in the new year the thousands of contractors and diplomats who remain in Iraq will depend on 5,000 private contractors for security.
The Pentagon said Thursday that the withdrawal is on schedule and that U.S. troop levels are now below 34,000 with just two months until the deadline.
Maj. Gen. Thomas Spoehr predicted that most of the U.S. military will be out well before the New Year's Eve deadline, as CNN first reported in October.
"I think it is clear to me that by the time we get to about mid-December or so, the vast majority of the U.S. forces in Iraq we plan to have them withdrawn," Spoehr said.
Despite major security improvements, dangers remain.
"This is not a rush to the exits," Spoehr said. "So it is a measured plan that ensures our continued force protection at every step of the operation."
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Sunday, December 18, 2011
