Iraqi officials worry about security deal with U.S

[Barrett808]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

Iraqi officials worry about security deal with U.S
By Leila Fadel | McClatchy Newspapers

BAGHDAD — Thousands of followers of militant Muqtada al Sadr peacefully took to the streets Friday following his call to protest a bilateral pact that would govern the economic, security and political relationship between Iraq and the United States.

The Status of Forces Agreement and an economic and political accord are expected to be completed by July and must pass the parliament before being finalized. Already voices of dissent are in the air.

The United Nation's mandate that allows foreign forces to occupy Iraq will not be renewed at the end of the year. So any future U.S. military involvement in the war-torn nation can only continue with such an agreement.

From Sadr City to Kufa in southern Iraq, thousands of followers of Sadr prayed and then peacefully stood in protest. In Sadr City, followers set fire to an American flag and an image of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki in Saddam Hussein's green military uniform.

"A curse upon him who agrees!" demonstrators chanted. "We are with you Sayyed Muqtada for liberating Iraq from the aggressors."

They held up banners denouncing the impending agreement between Iraq and the United States as "worse than the occupation."

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/39032.html

[LynnTheDem]

1. As the vast majority of all Iraqis oppose any such deal, the officials should worry.

Take a step outside the Green Zone, "officials".

[Old and In the Way]

2. Heck of a democracy you've given Iraq, Bushie.

Can we stop letting the neocons say that we are there to help these people? They don't want us there. The only way this gets done is if the US military puts a gun to Maliki's head and says "invite us in". What a joke.

[ohio2007]

3. France expresses renewed commitment to Iraq

snip
France has an embassy in Baghdad, but had announced it would also open two more diplomatic offices in Iraq -- one in Arbil and the other in the oil-rich port of Basra, 550 kilometres (340 miles) south of the capital.

The visit will be "an opportunity to express the availability of France to work to promote national reconciliation in Iraq," the French foreign ministry said.

snip
"The situation in Iraq is improving, but the crisis is far from over," a French diplomatic source in Paris said, adding that France was "available to host an Iraq reconciliation conference if it was deemed useful."

"It is important that the international community, particularly the European Union, rise to the occasion to help Iraqis," added the source, noting that Paris will have the rotating EU presidency in the second half of this year.

Kouchner arrived in the country from Jordan where he said on Friday that France was ready to receive 500 refugees from Iraq "as a first step."



http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080531102846.aclj03mc&show_article=1&catnum=0

The path of no blood for oil is about to start paying dividends

[Amonester]

4. What?

They didn't send a "bouquet de fleurs" to CONdi??

Watta bunch of ingrates!

[ohio2007]

5. Neighborhood Guard Sadr City ( video ; lining up for jobs in Sadr city )

Neighborhood Guard Sadr City -
Locals signing up for the neighborhood guard in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq. Scenes include recruits waiting in line, Soldiers filling out paperwork and photographing recruits and recruits and Soldiers interacting with one another

Date May 30, 2008
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a91_1212235215

In the long job lines, I noticed people hiding their faces from the camera. Guess they were shameful followers of

mookies failed party line;




"Idle minds are the Sadarists playground"


while .....



An Illinois state rep ( of the 97th district ) is in Iraq and regularly meets with "Sunni Triangle" Civic leaders and non tribal officials;


http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8db_1212238854