Iraqi PM open to US troop presence if blocs agree

[Keith Bee]

Source: Huffington Post

BAGHDAD — Iraq's prime minister said Wednesday he might ask thousands of U.S. troops to remain in the country next year provided that a solid majority of the main political parties back the request at a meeting this month.

Nouri al-Maliki's comments indicated a shift from his earlier stance that there would be no U.S. troops past this year. But his insistence on having a consensus before making the decision indicates al-Maliki's worry that he'll be blamed for such a politically risky decision.

The prime minister told reporters he will meet with Iraqi political leaders by the end of May to gauge support for having U.S. troops stay beyond a December withdrawal deadline.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20110511/ml-iraq/

---

:argh: :mad: :grr: :nuke: :puke:

[Javaman]

1. That won't end well...

considering that Moqtada al-Sadr stated two weeks ago if the US stays beyond the Dec 31st deadline very bad things will happen.

that nation is run be fools.

[Keith Bee]

3. That nation

and this one.

[Arctic Dave]

2. This is were Obama will make a bold stand and give a firm "NO".

Oh, who am I kidding. We never planned on leaving and him asking the other blocs won't mean jack.

[neoralme]

4. I hope Sadr does what he said. If not, the US

will strip the country of its resources and slowly replace the government with US puppets.

[truth2power]

5. I think Maliki already is a puppet. Surely you don't think

we'd let anyone assume power who would tell us to get out, do you?

Gotta keep control of the oil.

[neoralme]

7. No. You're right.

[truth2power]

10. My apologies, neo. I just re-read my post...

and it really sounded snarky. I didn't mean it that way. Not directed to you personally.

I've been out gardening (roto-tilling; Good gawd!)and coming in from time to time to check out DU. I'm crazy!

Anyway, welcome to DU. :hi:

[Keith Bee]

9. What oil?

Chinese and Russian companies will get that.

[makhno]

6. Pallets of cash being loaded onto Blackhawks as we speak n/t

[iwishiwas]

8. Did anyone ask the American (US citizens) if they approved??

[classysassy]

11. Our approval is not wanted or needed

just our hard earned money.

[Judi Lynn]

12. Iraq PM opens door to longer US troop presence

Source: Associated Press

Iraq PM opens door to longer US troop presence
His stance signals shift that could open way for long-term American presence in Iraq
By LARA JAKES, REBECCA SANTANA
The Associated Press
updated 1 hour 19 minutes ago 2011-05-11T20:10:57

BAGHDAD — Iraq's prime minister offered his clearest opening yet Wednesday for the possibility of extending the U.S. troop deployment past the Dec. 31 departure date, saying he would do so if most of the country's political blocs support the decision.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's comments were just as significant for what he did not say. On many previous occasions, he has insisted American troops will not be needed beyond the end of the year. But this time when asked by a reporter whether he personally supports keeping troops in Iraq, he declined to answer.

"You want to make me say yes or no before I gather the national consensus?" al-Maliki retorted. "I will not say it."

His words signaled a shift that could open the way for a long-term American troop presence in Iraq.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42994914/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

[dipsydoodle]

13. Muqtada al-Sadr won't support it.

To the U.S. military, Muqtada al-Sadr, 37, was a nuisance; to Iraq's Sunni minority, he is a nemesis. Al-Sadr's Shi'ite militia, the Mahdi Army, is thought to have killed tens of thousands during the sectarian war of 2006-07. Now the ayatullah in training wields political power and militia might: his bloc of parliamentarians can make or break the Iraqi government.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2066367_2066369_2066257,00.html #ixzz1M59rMiUL

From January :

Muqtada al-Sadr, the Iraqi Shia Muslim religious leader, has called on his followers to resist the "occupiers" of Iraq.

In his first public address since returning from self-imposed exile, he called on the newly formed government to make sure all US forces left Iraq by the end of the year as planned.

"We are still resisting the occupation through armed, cultural and all kinds of resistance, so repeat after me: no, no to occupiers," al-Sadr told a crowd of thousands outside his ancestral home in Najaf on Saturday.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/20111872647305497.html

Jan. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, an opponent of U.S. foreign policy, called on Iraq’s newly formed government to force “occupiers” to leave the country.

“The line of Iraqi resistance will not go away from Iraq,” al-Sadr told thousands of supporters in Najaf, about 100 miles south of Baghdad. “The Iraqi government should seek to get the occupiers out of the country by all means it sees appropriate.”

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-01-08/iraq-s-muqtada-al-sadr-urges-government-to-get-occupiers-out-.html

[xchrom]

14. Quelle shock, Quelle awe. Nt

[Selatius]

15. Our government will simply bribe enough people in parliament to vote yes to troop stay. nt

[Citizen Worker]

16. Did anyone really think we would ever leave Iraq or Afghanistan? Hell, we haven't left Japan, Korea

or Germany yet either.

[mountainlion55]

17. Yeah but

Mr. Obama said we would leave:sarcasm:

[Solly Mack]

18. Wait.Wait...let me get my surprise face on

:eyes:

[Fool Count]

19. Do they really expect us tot take that crap seriously?

US will stay in Iraq if it wants to stay, and leave it wants to leave. Iraq's PM (and his whole government) is just a puppet of the occupying forces.
He will say whatever his masters tell him to say. From the coverage it looks like US decided to stay a bit longer. So stay they will. Spare us all
the suspense about the indecisive Iraqis.

[Octafish]

20. Awesome!

USA! USA!

Go Wall Street!