http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15724404
Iran influenced Baghdad's decision to refuse to allow the US to keep troops in Iraq beyond the end of this year. The US must be out by December 31st. The US attempted to work towards a new agreement that would allow a small contingent of several thousand soldiers in Iraq that the government in Baghdad had refused. "Adviser Sa'ad Youssef al-Mutalabi says that while the decision had been Iraq's, Iranian sensitivities had played their part." However, Michael McClellan, who is the spokesman for the US embassy in Baghdad, said "We are not being pushed out and I don't think it's at the behest of Iran. Since 2003, our objective here has been to have an Iraq that is sovereign, stable and self-reliant. They are sovereign because they did make their own decision. We did not just come back at them and say: 'Sorry but we're going to keep our troops here anyway." There are around 30,000 soldiers still in Iraq but they all must be gone by the end of this year except the few that will remain to protect the embassy.
Tyler Coleman
TA: John 11:00AM
While this news may alarm some people about the growing influence of Iran on Iraq and possible threat to the United States, I think that this is not a cause for major concern. Whether the U.S. removes its troops by December 31, 2011 or December 31, 2015, we know that Iran is going to assert some pressure and influence the Iraqi government at some times. This seems to be an example of an inevitable outcome, however it will be interesting to see how the U.S. responds to this news. I also thought it was interesting that the article cited Iraq's denial of the wishes of the U.S. as proof that Iraq is sovereign. This seems to hint that something positive has come out of the nearly 10 years U.S. forces have remained in Iraq.
ReplyDeleteMatt Russo
TA: John 11:00AM
I don't believe that this is a big cause for concern yet. The inevitable was going to happen. Iran is going to pressure Iraq, and try to sway their influence whenver we leave. Wheter it was this year or in 2 years the same outcome would be the result. Anyways, there are not that many US citizens who believe we should still have troops in Iraq. Maybe Iraq is more of a soverign state since they denied our request, but only time will tell.
ReplyDeletePeter Gountanis
TA: Ryan 10AM
I think it's about time we got out of Iraq. The whole thing was a wild goose chase from the beginning wasting US resources that could have been used for our own economic purposes. We did the right thing but for the wrong reasons, yes Hussein was a bad guy, but there were no weapons of mass destruction, only oil. Iraq should be allowed to salvage whatever sovereignty it has left, but the contention that Iran is telling them to do kick out the troops is troubling. If this escalates, it would be a shame for US forces to have to go back in that area.
ReplyDeleteMatei Guran
TA: John Friday 9AM
I think it will be interesting to see what are the implications of post-withdrawal and its affects on U.S. credibility in the international arena. The article mentions how Washington publicly tried to make agreements to stall withdrawal and maintain troops in Iraq. In addition, now that the U.S. is exiting out of Iraq and with many internal struggles in Pakistan, what is the future of that region?
ReplyDeleteAnn Peter
TA: Ryan Maness 9AM