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| Iraq |
| Maliki Warns of Dire Consequences if Status of Forces Agreement Is Not Approved |
| 2008-11-24 |
| Iraq's defense minister warned Saturday that the government would declare a state of emergency if there was no agreement to keep U.S. forces in the country past the end of the year. The threat by Abdul Qadir Muhammed Jassim appeared aimed at pressuring parliament to approve a security accord allowing U.S. troops to stay three more years. Jassim has been a strong supporter of the agreement, which would replace a United Nations mandate that expires Dec. 31. But his language Saturday was unusually stark. He said at a news conference that if there was a sudden U.S. withdrawal, "we shall wait for a strike against us, in our midst." "There are armed groups that believe they are stronger than the security forces," Jassim said. He noted bluntly that some political parties maintain armed wings and suggested that foreign intelligence services were trying to intervene in Iraq's affairs. He did not give specifics, but U.S. officials have accused Iran of supporting armed groups in Iraq. Iran has denied the charge. The Iraqi cabinet approved the bilateral pact last Sunday, indicating that it has the support of the leaders of most major parties. But the agreement was the subject of raucous debate in parliament last week. On Friday, thousands of supporters of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr marched in central Baghdad against the agreement. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is seeking a strong vote in favor of the accord to prevent it from being used against him in upcoming elections. He also wants to satisfy a demand by Iraq's most revered Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, for "national consensus" on the agreement. The vote on the agreement was originally set for Monday but was moved to Wednesday because parties wanted more time to review it, officials said. Parliament is scheduled to adjourn in the coming week to allow lawmakers to make the hajj pilgrimage; they are not expected to reconvene until mid-December. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 There are a lot of 'dire consequences' for not approving things lately. Every company that goes to DC, hat in hand for money, warns of 'dire consequences'. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-11-24 14:58 |
| #2 The sad reality is that we have done everything that can be done to help Iraq, and the new US government will not be a friend to Iraq. It is better to part as friends, and for them to lock the door behind us, than to risk a US government that wants to harm them. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-11-24 07:26 |
| #1 Especially to him personally. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-11-24 07:16 |