Could It Be? The End Of The Bush/Maliki Permanent-Occupation Deal?
Everyone’s fingers crossed? Knuckles near a wooden object of some sort? OK then. According to the Washington Post, outrage from anti-occupation Iraqis like Sheikh Khalaf al-Ulayyan and Prof. Nadeem al-Jaberi might actually derail the permanent-occupation deal.
“„The Iraqi government may request an extension of the United Nations security mandate authorizing a U.S. military presence, due to expire in December, amid growing domestic criticism of new bilateral arrangements now being negotiated with the Bush administration, according to senior Iraqi officials.
“„Iraqis across the political spectrum have objected to Bush administration proposals for unilateral authority over U.S. military operations in Iraq and the detention of Iraqi citizens, immunity for civilian security contractors, and continuing control over Iraqi borders and airspace.
“„Failure to reach an agreement on the arrangements, which must be approved by the Iraqi parliament, would leave the negotiations over a future U.S.-Iraqi relationship and the role of U.S. forces in the country to the next American president.
No wonder, according to Patrick Cockburn, the U.S. is essentially blackmailing Maliki into signing.
