WORLD> Middle East
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WORLD> Middle East
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Battle shapes up over future of US role in Iraq
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-22 11:35 The White House said President Bush and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki discussed the talks Thursday via secured video teleconference and affirmed their commitment to completing the deal. Nevertheless, the two sides remain far apart on core issues, including the number of bases where the United States will have a presence, and US demands for immunity from Iraqi law for American soldiers and contractors. Other obstacles include US authority to detain suspects, fight battles without Iraqi permission and control of the country's airspace. Iraq's parliament must sign off on the deal by year's end -- and approval is by no means certain. Opposition to the initial US demands brought together rival Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish leaders who all complain the deal would leave real power in American hands. The oil minister, who is close to the country's powerful Shiite clerical leadership, told the British newspaper The Guardian this week that Iraq will demand the right to veto any US military operation. But American commanders believe they need such sweeping powers to protect US soldiers in a combat zone. Publicly, US officials have expressed confidence they can find language that will satisfy the Iraqis on all major issues. But the negotiations are taking place against the backdrop of war and intense power struggles among rival ethnic groups in Iraq -- each with its own agenda.The US operates scores of bases throughout the country, including the sprawling Camp Victory headquarters in Baghdad, Asad air base in western Iraq and the giant air facility at Balad, a 16-square-mile installation about 60 miles north of the capital that houses tens of thousands of American troops, contractors and US government civilians. It's still unclear how many of the facilities Washington would want to keep. If all else fails, the two sides could go back to the UN Security Council and seek an extension of the mandate allowing troops in Iraq. |
