Well, this just might put the kabosh on any military presence in Iraq. If the Iraqis want us gone, we have to go. Doesn’t look good for us now.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki declared Friday that talks with the U.S. on a new security agreement were deadlocked, as Sunni and Shiite preachers spoke out against the deal that would enable American troops to remain in Iraq after year’s end.
Al-Maliki said negotiations will continue, but his tough talk reflects Iraqi determination to win greater control of U.S. military operations after the U.N. mandate expires at the end of the year.
And we don’t generally like the military hamstrung by politicians, theirs or ours. Politicians screw stuff up. Case in point – PM Olmert was chiefly responsible for losing Israel’s disastrous war with Hezbollah a while back.
It will be interesting to see how and if they solve their differences. This may end up being a nonissue for the election if the Iraqis decide they want us gone. When, whether to withdraw, how many troops, how soon they leave may be decided well in advance of November.
