US 'may plot assassination of Al Maliki'

[eridani]

Source: Gulf News

Americans, increasingly resenting recent moves by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, could seek to topple or even assassinate him, says a secret report by a Kurdish political party, which is part of the national government.

The report, which Gulf News has seen, says Al Maliki does not want to see any US soldier in Iraq after 2011 and he preferred strong political, economic and military relations with the Americans but not the presence and influence of the US military in his country.

The latest US resentment stem from Al Maliki's strong stance in the current talks to reach a strategic security agreement between the two countries, the report said.

"Al Maliki has started to undermine the influence of those in the Iraqi military and security commanders who are classified as proteges of the Americans. This has raised concerns in the US military command in Baghdad. The freezing of the powers of the Iraqi Army's chief of staff, Babakir Zebari, is the first indication of this trend," the report said.


Read more: http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Iraq/10244335.html

---

Single source, but local, so they may have a real inside line here.

[jwirr]

1. I would say it is a forgone conclusion if Maliki continues to talk about

withdrawal.

[hvn_nbr_2]

2. Would that be "Nouri Dinh Diem" or "Ngo Dinh Al Maliki"?

We've seen this movie before.

[stillcool]

3. This couldn't have helped...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103375.html?nav=rss_world/europe
Iraq Rejects No-Bid Contracts
Talks Over Short-Term Oil Deals Lasted Too Long, Officials Say


By Ernesto Londoño
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, September 12, 2008; Page A10

BAGHDAD, Sept. 11 -- The Iraqi government has decided to scrap plans to award no-bid short-term advisory and technical support contracts to a handful of Western oil companies, Iraqi officials said this week.

The companies -- including Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, France's Total and British Petroleum -- are expected to submit bids in coming weeks for deals that the Iraqi government hopes will boost exploration and output in its oil fields, which have been hampered by years of war. Industry analysts said the short-term contracts could have helped companies win more lucrative exploration and development deals.

The Iraqi government informed the companies about its decision this month, said Assem Jihad, a spokesman for Iraq's Oil Ministry.

He said the ministry decided to end the talks because they had dragged on for too long. But he said Iraq looks forward to working with those companies in the future.
----------------------
China's national oil company last month became the first company to sign a major oil deal with Iraq since the war began in 2003. The 20-year deal with China's National Petroleum Corp., which revives a similar contract negotiated while Saddam Hussein was in power, is expected to increase output in one of Iraq's largest oil fields.

[eridani]

4. Lambchop bit Ms Shari a good one right on the nose, for sure n/t

[Disturbed]

5. He is friends with Iran. That alone may get him assasinated.

My guess is that he will be replaced or killed by al Q soon. Yeah, al Q does all the killing in Iraq now.

[tannybogus]

6. Helloooooooooooooo Vietnam! nt