GottaDash
10-30-2008, 09:44 AM
Thursday, October 30, 2008 11:15 GMT It seems that amending the security agreement with Washington will not run smoothly mainly after US Forces Commander in Iraq General Raymond Odierno warned the Iraqi Government of consequences if the security agreement is not signed on time. US McClatchy Newspaper revealed that Odierno’s warning includes a list of services that Washington would stop providing if the agreement fails namely halting reconstruction aids, interrupting Iraqi Forces training, and suspending protection of Iraqi borders and airspace.
According to the Newspaper, Iraqi officials considered Odierno’s statements as an alarming threat raising concerns that blocking the way of Status of Forces Agreement might spur a crisis in Iraq.
The Newspaper reported as well that the Iraqi Government is studying alternative emergency plans as Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki wants to extend the UN Security Council mandate but with changes thereto in a way that allows Iraq to try private contractors. In this case, there are fears of the US using veto on amending the mandate which presently grants immunity to US Forces and contractors from Iraq’s law.
MP Mahmoud Othman considered that these threats are part of US pressures to push Iraq into signing the agreement noting that this policy is wrong while the US should have shown further flexibility and tried to solve pending issues through understandings since the present agreement is crucial to Iraq. As for Vice President Tarek Al Hashemi, he affirmed that many parties see the US stand as an unacceptable blackmail.
On the other hand, spokesman for General Odierno denied such a letter while Iraqi governmental official denied reports of the US Administration sending threat letters to the Iraqi Government revealing to Al Sharq Al Awsat Newspaper that US President Georges W Bush sent a letter to Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki saying that the US Administration is ready to sign the agreement after introducing some changes in exception for US soldiers immunity which the US cannot cancel in protection to its troops.
http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-24029-Iraq-subject-to-warnings-if-US-deal-fails.html
According to the Newspaper, Iraqi officials considered Odierno’s statements as an alarming threat raising concerns that blocking the way of Status of Forces Agreement might spur a crisis in Iraq.
The Newspaper reported as well that the Iraqi Government is studying alternative emergency plans as Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki wants to extend the UN Security Council mandate but with changes thereto in a way that allows Iraq to try private contractors. In this case, there are fears of the US using veto on amending the mandate which presently grants immunity to US Forces and contractors from Iraq’s law.
MP Mahmoud Othman considered that these threats are part of US pressures to push Iraq into signing the agreement noting that this policy is wrong while the US should have shown further flexibility and tried to solve pending issues through understandings since the present agreement is crucial to Iraq. As for Vice President Tarek Al Hashemi, he affirmed that many parties see the US stand as an unacceptable blackmail.
On the other hand, spokesman for General Odierno denied such a letter while Iraqi governmental official denied reports of the US Administration sending threat letters to the Iraqi Government revealing to Al Sharq Al Awsat Newspaper that US President Georges W Bush sent a letter to Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki saying that the US Administration is ready to sign the agreement after introducing some changes in exception for US soldiers immunity which the US cannot cancel in protection to its troops.
http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-24029-Iraq-subject-to-warnings-if-US-deal-fails.html