IRAQ AT ODDS WITH US OVER TROOP PRESENCE BEYOND 2008

The Iraqi government said it had a “different vision” from the US over the deployment of American troops in the country beyond 2008 and vowed not to compromise national sovereignty.

Written by

Published on

June 19, 2022
The Iraqi government said it had a “different vision” from the US over the deployment of American troops in the country beyond 2008 and vowed not to compromise national sovereignty. Government spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh said the cabinet discussed the proposed Status of Forces Agreement which is scheduled to be concluded by next month and insisted that Iraq’s national interests must be protected. “A joint vision this issue is yet to be achieved between the two sides, and … the Iraqi side has a different vision, and it will not undercut or be negligent towards Iraqis’ rights and sovereignty,” Dabbagh said.
He said the cabinet had backed the Iraqi negotiating team which had already been asked by the national security council to ensure that national interests were not compromised. Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki and US President George W. Bush signed a non-binding statement of principles in November for the negotiations, which began in March with the aim of concluding a pact by the end of July. The proposed agreement is aimed at giving a legal basis to US troops after the December 31 expiry of a UN mandate defining their current status.