World-News

Iraq's chief spokesman acknowledged differences with the United States over a proposed long-term security agreement and pledged on Sunday that the government will protect Iraqi sovereignty in ongoing talks with the Americans.

http://tinyurl.com/4tu3fj



Iraq says likely to miss deadline for US pact

A July target for negotiating an agreement on future relations between Iraq and the United States is likely to be missed, an Iraqi government spokesman said on Tuesday.

http://tinyurl.com/6xyfwe



US-Iraq security pact shapes up as major battle as Iraqi prime minister goes to Iran for talks

A proposed U.S.-Iraq security agreement is shaping up as a major political battle between America and Iran, as the debate over the future of troops here intensifies ahead of the fall U.S. presidential election.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/03/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Security.php



Tell Iraqis No Permanent Bases

"The next president should commit to a speedy and complete withdrawal from Iraq," argues Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate for president, "and tell the Iraqi people that the U.S. troops will be going home."

http://www.theweekly.com/news/2008/June/03/Bob_Barr.html



Iraq rejects any article within long-term agreement violates sovereignty

The official spokesman for the Iraqi government on Tuesday highlighted that the government asserted not to accept any article which violates the national sovereignty during negotiations to ink a long-term agreement with the U.S.

http://tinyurl.com/4v9kfl



Cheney Enrages Iraqis Over Security Deal

Dick Cheney wants the Iraqi government installed by the U.S. occupation to sign a "security pact" with Washington by the end of July.

http://www.counterpunch.org/leupp06062008.html



Iraqi Officials Oppose US-Iraq Treaty

At an extraordinary hearing on Capitol Hill yesterday, members of the Iraqi parliament hand-delivered a letter to members of Congress that rejected the idea of a US-Iraq agreement unless the United States agrees to a specific timetable to get out of Iraq.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/dreyfuss/327163



Ayatollah Sistani rejects US draft

Ayatollah Sistani laid four conditions for any such agreement to be approved, adding that he was against any long term security pact with America.

http://www.iribnews.ir/Full_en.asp?news_id=254979&n=31



Iraq Seeking to Cement Ties with Iran

Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki will make an official visit to Iran on Saturday to strengthen relations between the two countries.

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8703160402



Iraq says it wants to restrict movement of U.S. troops

Iraq said on Friday it would not grant U.S. troops freedom of movement for military operations in a new agreement being negotiated on extending the presence of American troops on its soil.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080606/ts_nm/iraq_usa_military_dc



Iraq May Rebuff Troop Terms in New Security Plan

The Iraqi government doesn't want to extend the UN resolution and prefers to replace it with a bilateral agreement, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said yesterday. It might address issues such as whether U.S. soldiers have immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080606/pl_bloomberg/azm4qsqo9oqg



Iraq's Grand Ayatollah warns from uprising against US security pact

Al-Modaresy described the long-term treaty with the US as a 'sword directed over the Iraqis necks,' during a meeting with reporters.

http://tinyurl.com/47t9ro



Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani,'sets 4 conditions for US pact

"The cleric stressed that any long-term pact in Iraq should maintain four key terms including safeguarding Iraqis' interests, national sovereignty, national consensus and being presented to the Iraqi parliament for approval." leader of the largest bloc in Iraq's parliament, Seyyed Abdul Aziz al-Hakim said quoting Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=58791&sectionid=351020201



Iraq will not be used to "harm" Iran, PM vows

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki sought to reassure Iran over a planned security pact with Washington on Sunday, vowing Iraq would never be used as a platform to attack the Islamic republic.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/352757/1/.html


From Information Clearing House

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Ominous opposition to long-term US military presence in Iraq

Independent Institute
by Ivan Eland

06/02/08

At the behest of Iraqi Shi’i leader Moktada al-Sadr, his powerful faction staged a formidable protest this week against a likely U.S.-Iraqi agreement to establish a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq, which would replace the United Nation-authorized U.S. occupation that expires at the end of 2008. This demonstration, and subsequent protests planned for the duration of the summer, should worry both governments...

http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=2226


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

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Revealed: Secret Plan to Keep Iraq Under US Control

Patrick Cockburn, of The Independent UK: "A secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November. The terms of the impending deal, details of which have been leaked to The Independent, are likely to have an explosive political effect in Iraq. Iraqi officials fear that the accord, under which US troops would occupy permanent bases, conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and enjoy immunity from Iraqi law, will destabilise Iraq's position in the Middle East and lay the basis for unending conflict in their country."

http://www.truthout.org/article/revealed-secret-plan-keep-iraq-under-us-control



Iraqis Wary of US Security Agreement

Anne Flaherty, of The Associated Press: "Iraqi lawmakers told Congress on Wednesday that they have serious misgivings about a long-term security agreement being negotiated this year with President Bush, putting themselves squarely in line with Democrats who say hashing out a deal before Bush leaves office is bad timing. Opposition in the US and Iraqi legislative bodies underscores the political hurdles facing Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as they try to settle the terms under which US troops can continue operating in Iraq after a United Nations authorization expires at the end of the year."

http://www.truthout.org/article/iraqis-wary-us-security-agreement



US Issues Threat to Iraq's $50 Billion Foreign Reserve

Patrick Cockburn reports for The Independent UK: "The US is holding hostage some $50bn (£25bn) of Iraq's money in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to pressure the Iraqi government into signing an agreement seen by many Iraqis as prolonging the US occupation indefinitely, according to information leaked to The Independent."

http://www.truthout.org/article/us-issues-threat-iraqs-50-billion-foreign-reserve

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Iraqi MPs against US bases

Iraqi MPs say if bases are in the security agreement; most Iraqis will reject it.
http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=1643

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Secret Security Pact Will Ensure Permanent Iraq Occupation
http://www.infowars.net/articles/june2008/050608Iraq.htm

Iraq Lawmakers Want US Forces Out As Part of Deal
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/05/9430/

US Security Talks With Iraq in Trouble in Baghdad and DC
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/11/9565/



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