ID :
183589
Sun, 05/22/2011 - 13:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/183589
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Iraqi Politician Dismisses Logic behind Extension of US Presence in Iraq
TEHRAN (FNA)- A Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC) advisor underlined that the Iraqi parliament has a clear stance on Washington-Baghdad security deal and there is no reason for extending the US military presence in Iraq.
The military agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington at the end of November 2008 stipulates the withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq by December 31, 2011 as a deadline.
Speaking to FNA on Sunday, the Political Adviser of the SIIC head, Mohsen al-Hakim, said that no US soldier should remain in Iraq beyond 2011.
"From the 30 countries which had their troops in the post-Saddam Iraq only Americans have remained, and they should leave the country as well," Hakim stated.
"The agreement is not extendible, if the US wants to remain in Iraq, then it should strike a new deal (with Baghdad)," Hakim reiterated, and underlined that the Iraqi government is fully able to ensure security in the country.
"The government which is tasked with ensuring security has repeatedly announced that it can establish security in the country, and this, thus, leaves no more justification for an extended US mission in Iraq," he added.
The US has pressed senior Iraqi officials to revise their decision on the US pullout and demand Washington to keep its troops in the country beyond their scheduled departure in the yearend.
Iraqi state officials as well as religious and political figures have all condemned the US attempts for extending the mission of its troops in the country.
Late in April, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced that Iraq no more needs the US forces to protect its internal security, and underlined that his government will not bow to the pressures exerted on Baghdad to accept an extended US military mission in the country.
Senior Iraqi Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Kazzem al-Hosseini al-Haeri condemned the attempts made by Washington to prolong its military deployment in Iraq, and issued a Fatwa (religious decree) against the presence of the US forces in the country after the end of 2011.
"The extended mission of the infidel occupiers in Iraq even for one single day after the mentioned date (as cited in the security agreement) is haram (religiously forbidden)," the Grand Ayatollah declared in his decree.
Meantime, a ranking member of the Tribal Coordination Committee warned that Iraqi tribes will start an armed struggle against the US forces in case Pentagon extends the mission of its troops in the war-ravaged country beyond 2011.
Speaking to FNA on Wednesday, Saadoun al-Dulaimi announced that Iraq's tribal leaders have warned during their meeting on Tuesday that they, hand-in-hand with the Sadr Movement, would start an armed campaign against the US forces if the US military deployment in Iraq is extended.
The remarks by Sheikh Dulaimi came three days after a spokesman of the Shiite Sadr Movement in similar remarks underlined the necessity for the immediate withdrawal of the US forces from Iraq's soil based on the landmark agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington earlier.
"Our position is clear and transparent. The occupiers should leave Iraq's soil completely by the end of this year based on the agreement they have endorsed with our country," Salah al-Abidi told FNA last Sunday.
The military agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington at the end of November 2008 stipulates the withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq by December 31, 2011 as a deadline.
Speaking to FNA on Sunday, the Political Adviser of the SIIC head, Mohsen al-Hakim, said that no US soldier should remain in Iraq beyond 2011.
"From the 30 countries which had their troops in the post-Saddam Iraq only Americans have remained, and they should leave the country as well," Hakim stated.
"The agreement is not extendible, if the US wants to remain in Iraq, then it should strike a new deal (with Baghdad)," Hakim reiterated, and underlined that the Iraqi government is fully able to ensure security in the country.
"The government which is tasked with ensuring security has repeatedly announced that it can establish security in the country, and this, thus, leaves no more justification for an extended US mission in Iraq," he added.
The US has pressed senior Iraqi officials to revise their decision on the US pullout and demand Washington to keep its troops in the country beyond their scheduled departure in the yearend.
Iraqi state officials as well as religious and political figures have all condemned the US attempts for extending the mission of its troops in the country.
Late in April, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced that Iraq no more needs the US forces to protect its internal security, and underlined that his government will not bow to the pressures exerted on Baghdad to accept an extended US military mission in the country.
Senior Iraqi Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Kazzem al-Hosseini al-Haeri condemned the attempts made by Washington to prolong its military deployment in Iraq, and issued a Fatwa (religious decree) against the presence of the US forces in the country after the end of 2011.
"The extended mission of the infidel occupiers in Iraq even for one single day after the mentioned date (as cited in the security agreement) is haram (religiously forbidden)," the Grand Ayatollah declared in his decree.
Meantime, a ranking member of the Tribal Coordination Committee warned that Iraqi tribes will start an armed struggle against the US forces in case Pentagon extends the mission of its troops in the war-ravaged country beyond 2011.
Speaking to FNA on Wednesday, Saadoun al-Dulaimi announced that Iraq's tribal leaders have warned during their meeting on Tuesday that they, hand-in-hand with the Sadr Movement, would start an armed campaign against the US forces if the US military deployment in Iraq is extended.
The remarks by Sheikh Dulaimi came three days after a spokesman of the Shiite Sadr Movement in similar remarks underlined the necessity for the immediate withdrawal of the US forces from Iraq's soil based on the landmark agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington earlier.
"Our position is clear and transparent. The occupiers should leave Iraq's soil completely by the end of this year based on the agreement they have endorsed with our country," Salah al-Abidi told FNA last Sunday.
