Maliki’s Deputy Open to a Post-2011 U.S. Troop Presence As Well
Not only is Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki not the first high-ranking Iraqi official to suggest that the U.S. troop presence ought to continue after the 2011
Jul 31, 2020164.7K Shares2.8M Views
Not only is Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki not the first high-ranking Iraqi official to suggest that the U.S. troop presence ought to continue after the 2011 deadline for withdrawal, he’s not even the first to do so at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Rafe al-Eissawi, Iraq’s deputy prime minister, floated a similar idea in remarks to the Institute last month. Here’s a summary written by USIP’s Elizabeth Detwiler:
“„“There is a schedule… in the hands of the two ministries [Iraqi ministries of Defense and Interior] to cover the training and equipment program, which is definitely [farther] than 2011, despite the fact that Iraq and the U.S. are committed to implement the SOFA and complete withdrawal at 2011.” Eissawi suggested that the [Iraqi security forces] would not be fully prepared to handle external threats until 2018.
“„“I think this should be the decision of the next Iraqi government to reevaluate the status of the security forces,” Eissawi continued. “I think it is possible for Iraq or the U.S. to restudy their situation again, to decide at that time whether to [participate] in another phase of agreement or not.” However, Eissawi assured, “for the time being in Baghdad,” the assumption is that the SOFA will be carried out and withdrawal will be complete at the end of 2011.
Quite the elbow in the United States’ ribs. So far, all official U.S. statements have indicated a desire to abide by the Status of Forces Agreement. Even if the Iraqi government formally requested a revision, would the Obama administration accept one? And would the Republican Party, which has unwaveringly endorsed the withdrawal strategyand claimed it as its own, push once again for an open-ended military commitment to Iraq?
Rhyley Carney
Reviewer
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