tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post132790164899271232..comments2024-02-29T12:38:32.191-08:00Comments on MUSINGS ON IRAQ: Is Iraq’s Prime Minister Becoming A Dictator? An Interview With Kirk Sowell Of Inside Iraqi PoliticsJoel Winghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-6267611892498591172012-06-26T08:13:49.213-07:002012-06-26T08:13:49.213-07:00Right, the Sadrists were indeed opposed to any Ame...Right, the Sadrists were indeed opposed to any American presence whatsoever, but I've not seen evidence that their opposition proved the decisive factor in the breakdown of negotiations. Already by summer 2011 it seems they had been excluded from the decision-making regarding a troop extension, as all other factions (including Sunni Arabs like Mutlaq and Hashimi) declared that U.S. 'trainers' would be needed beyond 2011.<br /><br />My understanding is that the breakdown arose as the U.S. refused to compromise on its insistence that its troops be granted immunity because that is the legal status for its troops in all other foreign bases. Following this, attempts to find loopholes failed and so the Obama administration resigned itself to a pullout by the end of the year, with ostensible reassurances from Maliki that U.S. troops could return at some point in the future to provide further training.Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamiminoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-69081986436639021372012-06-26T08:00:23.194-07:002012-06-26T08:00:23.194-07:00Aymenn yes Maliki and some parties supported the i...Aymenn yes Maliki and some parties supported the idea of American trainers staying in Iraq past the end of 2011, but with no immunity. The Sadrists however steadfastly refused any American presence whatsoever, and helped sink any plans for the US to stay.Joel Winghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611810110771744360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953410733493889728.post-7679993756330941202012-06-26T04:28:06.709-07:002012-06-26T04:28:06.709-07:00Joel,
Kirk says:
***Maliki himself tried to have...Joel,<br /><br />Kirk says:<br /><br />***Maliki himself tried to have the U.S. presence renewed, it was the Sadrists and Sunni Arabs who blocked it.***<br /><br />I am not so sure about this analysis of the question of extending the U.S. presence. I thought Maliki was able to organise a national consensus in the summer of last year (excluding the Sadrists) whereby a small contingent force of U.S. troops would be allowed to stay under the guise of 'trainers', and as a concession to public and general lawmaker sentiment, they would not be granted immunity. Thus the immunity issue proved to be the main stumbling block over which negotiations broke down.Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimihttp://www.aymennjawad.orgnoreply@blogger.com