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BAGHDAD—U.S. and Iraqi leaders signaled Wednesday that the two governments are working toward an agreement to return some American forces to Iraq after completion of next month's troop withdrawal to help train Iraqi units and maintain security gains.
[color=red]Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said there is "no doubt the U.S. forces have a role in providing training of Iraqi forces.[/color]" Vice President Joe Biden, who arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday night to meet with Iraqi leaders and salute American troops as the war winds to a formal close, said the U.S. will provide security assistance to the Iraqis at Baghdad's request.
Messrs. Biden and Maliki said U.S. and Iraqi officials agreed to form a committee to address defense and security cooperation between the two countries. Those issues have been the main point of contention between Washington and Baghdad as the year-end deadline for U.S. troop withdrawal neared.
Mr. Biden told Iraqi leaders that while the post-war phase of U.S.-Iraqi relations will hopefully be defined by typical diplomatic and economic exchanges, "that partnership includes a robust security relationship based on what you decide—what you decide—you think that relationship should be."
"We will continue our discussions with your government over the substance of our security arrangements, including areas of training, intelligence and counterterrorism," Mr. Biden said.
Until last month, U.S. and Iraqi leaders had been negotiating an agreement to keep roughly 3,000 U.S. troops in the country to train Iraqi forces. But those talks broke down when Iraqi leaders refused to grant the U.S. troops immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts, prompting President Barack Obama to announce a complete withdrawal by Dec. 31.
Mr. Obama has come under criticism from Republican members of Congress both for failing to reach a deal with the Iraqis and for the potential cost of withdrawing then returning troops to the country.
Some GOP lawmakers and conservative defense analysts have raised concerns that the complete withdrawal would clear the way for Iran to exercise more influence on Iraq.
However, a clean break from the war appears to track the political interests of both Mr. Maliki, who faces resistance in Iraq to an American military presence, and Mr. Obama, who campaigned on a promise to end the war in Iraq and is facing a tough re-election fight next year.
lor=red]]Fewer than 15,000 U.S. troops currently remain in Iraq. With roughly 500 leaving each day,[/size] that number is set to be near zero when Mr. Obama hosts Mr. Maliki at the White House on Dec. 12. The war, which began in 2003, has claimed more than 4,400 American lives cost U.S. taxpayers over $800 billion.
With mounting political pressure from Americans over the rate of government spending, Mr. Obama has cast the end of the Iraq war and the downsizing of the one in Afghanistan as an example of his administration's fiscal responsibility.
But despite pressure from voters to curtail spending and a promise from Mr. Obama to focus more on problems at home, Mr. Biden signaled Wednesday that the U.S. will continue to pour financial resources into Iraq long after the war's official end.
Mr. Biden said a continued, costly investment in Iraq could include not only U.S. troops to train Iraqi forces, but also investments in the country's infrastructure and health-care services. He noted that the U.S. just launched a $74 million project to improve primary health care at 360 clinics across Iraq. "This is about developing people's capacity," Mr. Biden said. "We have big plans."
The pledge comes at a time when Mr. Obama's proposals to fund domestic infrastructure projects and other initiatives to jolt the sluggish U.S. economy are meeting resistance in Congress.
Mr. Biden acknowledged the unpopularity back home of a deep U.S. involvement in Iraq, which is home to the largest U.S. embassy in the world. He said his comments were directed to Americans who ask: "Is this worth it? Why are we continuing to expend so much energy and money?"
"It is worth it," he said, despite the cost, difficulty and controversy.
At the same time, the U.S. is looking to distance itself from shouldering the responsibility for Iraq's future. When Mr. Maliki suggested that Iraq's success depends on its relationship with the U.S., Mr. Biden sought to correct him.
"We are absolutely committed to being your partner to the extent you want us to be," Mr. Biden told Mr. Maliki as they sat down to meet one-on-one. "But it's the … civilian leadership in Iraq that's going to determine the future in Iraq."
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[color=red]Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said there is "no doubt the U.S. forces have a role in providing training of Iraqi forces.[/color]" Vice President Joe Biden, who arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday night to meet with Iraqi leaders and salute American troops as the war winds to a formal close, said the U.S. will provide security assistance to the Iraqis at Baghdad's request.
Messrs. Biden and Maliki said U.S. and Iraqi officials agreed to form a committee to address defense and security cooperation between the two countries. Those issues have been the main point of contention between Washington and Baghdad as the year-end deadline for U.S. troop withdrawal neared.
Mr. Biden told Iraqi leaders that while the post-war phase of U.S.-Iraqi relations will hopefully be defined by typical diplomatic and economic exchanges, "that partnership includes a robust security relationship based on what you decide—what you decide—you think that relationship should be.""We will continue our discussions with your government over the substance of our security arrangements, including areas of training, intelligence and counterterrorism," Mr. Biden said.
Until last month, U.S. and Iraqi leaders had been negotiating an agreement to keep roughly 3,000 U.S. troops in the country to train Iraqi forces. But those talks broke down when Iraqi leaders refused to grant the U.S. troops immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts, prompting President Barack Obama to announce a complete withdrawal by Dec. 31.Mr. Obama has come under criticism from Republican members of Congress both for failing to reach a deal with the Iraqis and for the potential cost of withdrawing then returning troops to the country.
Some GOP lawmakers and conservative defense analysts have raised concerns that the complete withdrawal would clear the way for Iran to exercise more influence on Iraq.
However, a clean break from the war appears to track the political interests of both Mr. Maliki, who faces resistance in Iraq to an American military presence, and Mr. Obama, who campaigned on a promise to end the war in Iraq and is facing a tough re-election fight next year.lor=red]]Fewer than 15,000 U.S. troops currently remain in Iraq. With roughly 500 leaving each day,[/size] that number is set to be near zero when Mr. Obama hosts Mr. Maliki at the White House on Dec. 12. The war, which began in 2003, has claimed more than 4,400 American lives cost U.S. taxpayers over $800 billion.
With mounting political pressure from Americans over the rate of government spending, Mr. Obama has cast the end of the Iraq war and the downsizing of the one in Afghanistan as an example of his administration's fiscal responsibility.
But despite pressure from voters to curtail spending and a promise from Mr. Obama to focus more on problems at home, Mr. Biden signaled Wednesday that the U.S. will continue to pour financial resources into Iraq long after the war's official end.
Mr. Biden said a continued, costly investment in Iraq could include not only U.S. troops to train Iraqi forces, but also investments in the country's infrastructure and health-care services. He noted that the U.S. just launched a $74 million project to improve primary health care at 360 clinics across Iraq. "This is about developing people's capacity," Mr. Biden said. "We have big plans."
The pledge comes at a time when Mr. Obama's proposals to fund domestic infrastructure projects and other initiatives to jolt the sluggish U.S. economy are meeting resistance in Congress.Mr. Biden acknowledged the unpopularity back home of a deep U.S. involvement in Iraq, which is home to the largest U.S. embassy in the world. He said his comments were directed to Americans who ask: "Is this worth it? Why are we continuing to expend so much energy and money?"
"It is worth it," he said, despite the cost, difficulty and controversy.
At the same time, the U.S. is looking to distance itself from shouldering the responsibility for Iraq's future. When Mr. Maliki suggested that Iraq's success depends on its relationship with the U.S., Mr. Biden sought to correct him.
"We are absolutely committed to being your partner to the extent you want us to be," Mr. Biden told Mr. Maliki as they sat down to meet one-on-one. "But it's the … civilian leadership in Iraq that's going to determine the future in Iraq."
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