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08/03/2011: History
Maliki: Aqrarabakao pull up to the blocks and then Alssayashomen Parliament
Al-Sabah
As called for by President Jalal Talabani to promote cooperation between Baghdad and Washington, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's decision to keep U.S. troops or not is up to the political blocs and then Parliament.
The presidential statement received "morning," a copy of it, that the president was received in Baghdad on Tuesday evening, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and his entourage, which included U.S. Ambassador James Jeffrey, the general commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, Gen. Lloyd Austin.
During the meeting they discussed bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States and the importance of working to strengthen the frameworks of bilateral cooperation in building the strategic framework agreement signed between the two countries.
It was also stressed the importance of the support provided by U.S. forces to Iraqi armed forces in the field of training, arming, equipping and rehabilitation of infrastructure, where the President commended the important role played by the United States and its armed forces in the elimination of dictatorship and help the Iraqis in providing stability and reconstruction, rebuilding, stressing the importance of strengthening friendly relations and expand future cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the fields of economy, trade and development and other areas.
As regards the general situation in Iraq, highlighted by President Talabani of light on the overall political developments and efforts to raise political leaders to the table of dialogue to overcome the problems and get to understandings satisfactory to all parties, noting that Iraq is an independent country and an important and rich and has all the prerequisite for success, progress and prosperity to become a model great for democracy and freedom model in the Middle East.
In turn, Admiral Mullen's commitment to the United States support the political process and democracy in Iraq, noting that his country continues to support the Iraqis in the development of the capacity of the armed forces and the Iraqi security and other fields of economic, scientific, cultural and commercial.
Mullen also praised the key role of President Talabani in the political arena and his efforts to reunite and bring the views, stressing the importance of the continuation of His Excellency in this national leadership role.
In the meantime, he met the Prime Minister at his office yesterday, the first official chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army, Admiral Mike Mullen and his accompanying delegation.
Maliki reiterated during the meeting, according to a statement issued by his office had received "morning," a copy of it, that "the final decision in determining the need to keep U.S. troops or not to the political blocs and then the House of Representatives," and expressed hope that the two leaders of the blocks at their a final decision in this regard.
The Prime Minister called to the need for continued cooperation and coordination between the two sides regardless of the nature Alaqraralve will emerge from the faction leaders, stressing the need for continued armament cooperation between Baghdad and Washington, particularly on the subject of air defense and securing Iraq's urgent need for this type of defenses.
For his part, Admiral Mike Mullen, expressed his government's readiness to support Iraq, including needs and cooperation with the Iraqi government to meet the various challenges.
Mullen expressed his admiration for the achievements of the Iraqi security forces of progress at various levels, saying: "I was in Mosul, noted progress in the performance of Iraqi forces, we did not expect the level of two years ago from now."
He also stressed the need to develop and deepen bilateral relations to serve the interests of both countries and called for more corporate presence in Iraq and to contribute effectively in the ongoing process of reconstruction.
In the meantime, the head of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, yesterday, calling the Iraqi government to speed up the take a position on the issue of the withdrawal of U.S. forces, and push for the approval of Parliament to grant U.S. soldiers immunity from trial.
Mullen said at Camp Victory near Baghdad airport: Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani, who met by Monday evening, "realize the importance of taking a decision on this matter quickly."
"We need a decision now, there are talks under way and I hope to be reaching this decision quickly in order to conduct negotiations with the Iraqi leadership, the United States."
But he stressed that "there are major political challenges associated with the path to reach a decision."
The U.S. military is still published about 47 thousand soldiers in Iraq, note that these must be withdrawn completely from the country end of this year, according to a security agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington.
U.S. officials are pressing on their Iraqi counterparts to push them to determine the position of the potential demand from the U.S. forces keep the number of its troops beyond the end of the year.
Informed political source "morning" recently, that "there are political orientation of the political blocs to keep power limited offer air support and the training of Iraqi forces to arms for a period not exceeding two years," noting that "the power that may remain will not be licensed to conduct military operations or bombing air, but in full coordination with Iraqi authorities and are subject to Iraqi laws outside the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, where it will be based. "
Also ruled out by President Jalal Talabani, the end of last week the possibility of extending the security agreement (SOFA) signed between Baghdad and Washington, but he said there is a tendency towards a political force to keep a limited number of trained Americans after the end of this year.
Mullen stressed yesterday that any agreement could be reached on this issue must include parliamentary approval to grant American soldiers immunity from trial, which is enjoyed by all soldiers within the security agreement signed between Washington and Baghdad.
In Washington, a spokesman for the U.S. Defense Department Col. David Lapan said the Iraqi delegation will travel in August to the United States to buy the first batch will include 18 combat aircraft F-16.
A Pentagon spokesman told reporters that "Iraq has asked 36 aircraft and F-16 will come delegation this month to push the negotiations forward on 18 of these fighters."
The Prime Minister announced last Saturday that he resumed the stalled negotiations for months to buy 36 F-16s instead of 18 initially scheduled, and that Iraq needs to specialists Americans to stay in the country until after the withdrawal date and the training of Iraqi forces to lead the aircraft and use in weapons again.
Meanwhile, Mullen accused Iran in a press conference that it "continues to violate the sovereignty of Iraq by intervening in their affairs, social, political, and also through the training and equipping militants to launch attacks on Iraqi territory," he says.
The U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said on July 11 during a visit to Baghdad, said U.S. military carried out combat operations in Iraq alone, officials Maadh a breach of the security agreement signed between the two countries.
Under the security agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington on the end of November of 2008 that it should withdraw all U.S. forces from all territories and waters and airspace of Iraq no later than December 31 of this year. And had withdrawn U.S. combat forces under the Convention of the Cities and villages and towns of Iraq on 30 June 2009.
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