Associated Press
BAGHDAD (AP) -- The top U.S. military officer said Tuesday that
American troops must be given immunity from prosecution as part of any
agreement to keep them in Iraq beyond the end of the year and that
this protection must be approved by Iraq's parliament.
The comments by Joint Chiefs chairman Adm. Mike Mullen could make it
more difficult for the troops to stay here.
Mullen and other U.S. officials have been pushing Iraq to decide
whether they would want additional American forces to stay in the
country past their Dec. 31 departure date, and the immunity issue has
been one of the key sticking points.
"An agreement, which would include privileges and immunities for our
American men and women in uniform will need to go through the COR,"
said Mullen, referring to the Council of Representatives as Iraq's
parliament is known.
Washington has offered to let up to 10,000 U.S. troops stay and
continue training Iraqi forces on tanks, fighter jets and other
military equipment.
Mullen told reporters in Baghdad that Iraq's president and prime
minister have promised to quickly consider the offer, and stressed
that time is running out.
U.S. officials have said repeatedly that they need to know soon
whether Iraq wants them to stay longer so they can figure out which of
their forces must stay and which must go. Right now, about 46,000
American forces remain in country, and this fall their departure will
begin ramping up.
"A significant part of this is just a physics problem. You get to a
point in time where you just can't turn back and all the troops must
leave. That's why it's so important to make the decision absolutely as
soon as possible," he said.
But Iraqi lawmakers and government officials have been leery about
taking a public stand on whether they want American forces to stay or
go.
U.S. troops are still unpopular with many Iraqis who are tired of
eight years of war. One of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's top
allies, anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, has made it his mission
to drive American forces from the country, leaving the prime minister
in a tough position.
Neighboring Iran is also lobbying for American forces to leave Iraq.
The U.S. says Iran is behind a campaign of violence against American
forces that began back in March and is intended to make it appear
Shiite militias are driving the Americans from the country.
Mullen accused Iran of supplying the militias with arms and
interfering with Iraq's internal affairs.
"These are hardly the acts of a friend. It is clear that Tehran seeks
a weak Iraq and an Iraq more dependent upon and more beholden to a
Persian worldview," he said.
Mullen credited U.S. and Iraqi forces with bringing down the violence
in recent weeks by going after Shiite militias, something Iraq's
Shiite leadership has been reluctant to do in the past.
Mullen met Monday night with al-Maliki and Iraqi President Jalal
Talabani. He said they know a decision must come soon but acknowledged
that they face "internal challenges, associated with reaching this
decision."
"They're very aware of the urgency of the issue," said Mullen. "It was
apparent to me in meeting with both the prime minister and the
president that they're anxious to resolve and reconcile those
differences. but that's really up to them."
Al-Maliki said in a statement on his website late Monday that he hoped
Iraqi political blocs would be able to reach a consensus Tuesday night
when they are expected to meet.
The Shiite prime minister stressed that regardless of the decision on
U.S. troops that he wanted Washington and Baghdad to continue
cooperation, especially in the area of air defense.
Iraq is unable to provide for its own air sovereignty. Over the
weekend al-Maliki announced that Iraq would purchase 36 F-16 fighter
planes from the U.S., which is a jump from the 18 that Baghdad
initially planned to buy.
But even after the purchase goes through it would take years of
training for the Iraqi Air Force to be able to protect its air space.
© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more
about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
----
American troops must be given immunity from prosecution?
---
Since when did an invading military need immunity from prosectution?
Washington has offered to let up to 10,000 U.S. troops stay and
continue training Iraqi forces ...
U.S. officials have said repeatedly that they need to know soon
whether Iraq wants them to stay longer ...
---
these are the people who need to be removed from our government asap
by any means necessary
Mullen accused Iran of supplying the militias with arms and
interfering with Iraq's internal affairs
---
a warmonger always needs a new enemy
Iraq is unable to provide for its own air sovereignty.
---
their country ... their problem
al-Maliki announced that Iraq would purchase 36 F-16 fighter planes
from the U.S
---
that ought to help even things up between the muzzies in Iraq and jews
in Israel
--
Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
* Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/
* It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
* Read the latest breaking news, and more.
No comments:
Post a Comment