US Pressures Iraqi Government to Sign Military Bases Agreement, Described as Eternal Occupation

UIC leader: Iraq will not submit to deadline on long-term agreement

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 04 /06 /2008 Time 10:01:33
Baghdad, Jun 4, (VOI) –

A senior leader from the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC) on Wednesday said that Iraq will not accept any deadlines from the United States with regards to its long-term security agreement with the Iraqi government, stressing the strength of the Iraqi stance in the current negotiations with the U.S. administration.

"If the Americans have their agenda, we have ours, which mainly focuses on the sovereignty of Iraq. That is why we will not submit to any deadline that may sacrifice Iraq's fundamentals, which are its sovereignty, constitution, political process and the unity of the Iraqi people," Jalal al-Din al-Sagheer told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

The current negotiations focus on "a framework for the agreement, rather than the agreement itself, which should be passed by the U.S. Congress," al-Sagheer said, explaining what he described as the U.S. side's discontent with the situation.

The parliamentarian unveiled U.S. pressures on the Iraqi government to sign the agreement, adding "The Americans are not absolutely strong to impose an agreement on Iraqis….Iraq has the right to accept or to refuse."

The U.S.-Iraqi agreement governs the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq after 2008 and will not come into force without the approval of the Iraqi parliament, which has 275 members from five blocs, in addition to the Sadrist movement and al-Fadhila party. U.S. troops' presence currently relies on a mandate by the United Nations and is annually renewed at the request of the Iraqi government.

On Tuesday, a lawmaker from the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF), Hussein al-Falluji, said that 33 parliamentarians had signed a request to question the Iraqi foreign minister over the details of the agreement.

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U.S. spokesman suggests further troop withdrawal from Iraq

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq

Wednesday , 04 /06 /2008 Time 10:01:33

Baghdad, Jun 4, (VOI) –

A spokesman for U.S. forces in Iraq on Wednesday said that a further withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq is on the cards, reiterating his country's assertions that negotiations with Iraq on the long-term security agreement are moving forward.

"Four of the five brigades, which were added to the Multi-National Force (MNF) in Iraq in June 2007, have pulled out. In July 2008, the remaining brigade, along with two Marine battalions, will follow suit," General Kevin Bergner said during a Baghdad-based press conference today.

Bergner said that a further troop withdrawal will be possible after commanders submit their reports about the progress of the security situation to the top commander.

In early April 2008, U.S. President approved a recommendation made by Top U.S. Commander in Iraq General David Petraeus for the withdrawal of U.S. forces after July 2008.

According to the recommendation, a total of 140,000 U.S. servicemen will remain in the country until the end of 2008.

In mid-May, the U.S. Congress voted with a majority of 224 against 196 in favor of a non-binding plan to withdraw all troops from Iraq by December 2009.

Commenting on the progress in negotiations over the U.S.-Iraqi long-term agreement, the spokesman said that the agreement reflects his country's unwillingness to have permanent bases in Iraq.

Bergner said that talks are moving forward with the Iraqi government, adding that all agreed upon points will be submitted to the Iraqi parliament for further discussion and vote.

On Tuesday, a parliamentarian from the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC) told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI) that negotiations had stopped because of a disagreement over the proposed drafts.

A declaration of principles was signed between U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in December 2007. The declaration was scheduled to be ratified on July 31, 2008 and to come into force as of January 1, 2009. The U.S.-Iraqi agreement governs the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq after 2008 and will not come into force without the approval of the Iraqi parliament, which has 275 members from five blocs, in addition to the Sadrist movement and al-Fadhila party. U.S. troops' presence currently relies on a mandate by the United Nations and is annually renewed at the request of the Iraqi government. On Tuesday, a lawmaker from the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF), Hussein al-Falluji, said that 33 parliamentarians had signed a request to question the Iraqi foreign minister over the details of the agreement.

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Iraqi-U.S. deal dominates Baghdad press

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 04 /06 /2008 Time 10:01:33
Baghdad, Jun 4, (VOI)-

The long-term security agreement (permanent US military bases) between Iraq and the United States still dominates the Baghdad-based newspapers on Wednesday, while another newspaper criticized what it described as the sectarian attitude of some politicians.

Al-Baia'a al-Jadeeda newspaper, independent, said in its editorial “we have a big controversy in Iraq over the agreement with Washington, despite it has not been signed yet, and this controversy is necessary because it is related to Iraq’s destiny.”

A declaration of principles was signed between U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in December 2007. The declaration was planned to be ratified on July 31, 2008 to be effective as of January 1, 2009.

The agreement governs the U.S. forces' presence in Iraq after the year 2008. This presence currently relies on a mandate by the U.N., renewed annually upon the request of the Iraqi government.

The agreement should not be effective except after endorsement by the 275-member Iraqi Parliament, which comprises five political blocs, the Fadhila (Virtue) Party and the Sadrist Bloc, or Iraqis loyal to Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr.

On the same subject, al-Ra’i al-'Aam, an independent daily, said in its editorial titled (security agreement or an eternal occupation) “claims made by the U.S. administration started to fall down just like the claims the administration had made to invade Iraq.”

The paper highlighted also the comments made by the mass media about the agreement’s articles, describing these articles as a step to destroy Iraq’s sovereignty.

“Some well-informed sources said that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told the political council that the U.S. administration showed no commitment to get Iraq out of the chapter 7 or decreasing its debts, but U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, said that (the Iraqi government was the one which asked for signing this agreement) the matter the government has not denied,” the paper added.

Badr newspaper, the daily mouthpiece of (the US-backed) Badr Organization, one of the components of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC) led by Abdul Aziz al-Hakeem, said in its editorial (the agreement and the others) “the scheduled agreement between Iraq and the U.S. is suitable and it could be accepted or rejected after determining the required criteria.”

Al-Umma al-Iraqia, the daily mouthpiece of al-Umma al-Iraqia party under MP Methal al-Alusi, criticized the sectarian attitude of some politicians, asserting that the real success is to serve the country and to support all factions which hope in new Iraq.

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