(President Barack Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki walk from the Oval Office for a joint press availability in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)From The Washington Independent:
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki opened the door for the first time Thursday to the prospect of a U.S. military presence in Iraq after the December 2011 deadline for troop withdrawal set by last year’s bilateral accord — something President Obama appeared to rule out during a joint appearance on Tuesday.
Speaking to an audience at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, Maliki said the accord, known as the Status of Forces Agreement, would “end” the American military presence in his country in 2011, but “nevertheless, if Iraqi forces required further training and further support, we shall examine this at that time based on the needs of Iraq,” he said through translation in response to a question from The Washington Independent. “I am sure that the will, the prospects and the desire for such cooperation is found among both parties.”
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My Comment: In the past week Iraq has experienced bomb attacks that has killed a high number of its citizens. Iraqi Kurds in the north of the country are positioning themselves for autonomy or even independence. Extremist Shiite leaders have also made their presence and intentions known .... and none of these intentions are in the best interests of Iraq.
Prime Minister Maliki is no fool .... U.S. forces bring muscle and stability against extremist groups, and as long as the Iraqi Army still acts as an Army in training, they would be insufficient to counter what tribal and extremist groups can bring into a fight.
President Obama's remarks are no surprise. He wants to get out of Iraq ASAP, a conflict that he has been opposed to since the beginning, and a part of the world that he wants to distance America from as far as possible.