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'Al-Hayat': Secret Washington-Baghdad Negotiations Over Retaining U.S. Trainers
The London daily al-Hayat reports that Washington and Baghdad are conducting secret negotiations regarding the extension of some U.S. forces' stay in Iraq for training purposes beyond the official withdrawal date of December 31.
The negotiations are being carried out by a joint committee headed by the Iraqi defense minister (currently it is Prime Minister al-Maliki who serves as the acting minister of defense) and the commander of the U.S. forces in Iraq. The leaders of the political blocs last week authorized al-Maliki conduct such negotiations.
There are nevertheless strong political elements in the Iraqi political system that strongly object to the presence of any U.S. military personnel under any circumstances. The only political bloc that, on record, supports the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq beyond 2011 is the Kurdish bloc.
[Al-Maliki will have to maneuver a political minefield to reach an agreement with the U.S.]
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The London daily al-Hayat reports that Washington and Baghdad are conducting secret negotiations regarding the extension of some U.S. forces' stay in Iraq for training purposes beyond the official withdrawal date of December 31.
The negotiations are being carried out by a joint committee headed by the Iraqi defense minister (currently it is Prime Minister al-Maliki who serves as the acting minister of defense) and the commander of the U.S. forces in Iraq. The leaders of the political blocs last week authorized al-Maliki conduct such negotiations.
There are nevertheless strong political elements in the Iraqi political system that strongly object to the presence of any U.S. military personnel under any circumstances. The only political bloc that, on record, supports the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq beyond 2011 is the Kurdish bloc.
[Al-Maliki will have to maneuver a political minefield to reach an agreement with the U.S.]
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
