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Nuri al-Maliki Gives Up, Will Leave Office

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Thu Aug 14, 2014 at 04:17:12 PM EST
Tags: Maliki, Iraq (all tags)
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Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has agreed to leave office.

Maliki ended eight years of often divisive, sectarian rule and endorsed fellow Shi'ite Haider al-Abadi in a televised speech during which he stood next to his successor. Earlier, a leading figure in the Sunni minority told Reuters he had been promised U.S. help to fight the Islamic State militants.

Ahmed Khalaf al-Dulaimi, the Governor of the Anbar province, told Reuters that the U.S. promised air support for its fight against militants.

"Our first goal is the air support. Their technology capability will offer a lot of intelligence information and monitoring of the desert and many things which we are in need of.

"No date was decided but it will be very soon and there will be a presence for the Americans in the western area."

The White House has not confirmed his statements, which were part of conversations he had with diplomats and a Pentagon official. [More...]

According to Dulaimi,

"I held several meetings since one month ago with the American embassy and the commander of the central troops all in this regard, and very soon there will be a joint coordination centre and operations in Anbar. They gave a promise."

Obama, Kerry and Chuck Hagel said earlier this week that further military assistance would not include troops on the ground and will be dependent upon the new Iraqi government's ability to form an inclusive government.

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    Nuri al-Maliki Gives Up, Will Leave Office | 7 comments (7 topical)

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    Hooray!!! (5.00 / 4) (#1)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 14, 2014 at 04:39:35 PM EST
    Chalk another one up for Obama and his foreign policy.

    Perhaps O and H can discuss this at the bday (none / 0) (#2)
    by oculus on Thu Aug 14, 2014 at 04:42:49 PM EST
    party tonight. See Gail Collins (NYT).

    Parent
    I don't need to hear anymore (none / 0) (#3)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 14, 2014 at 04:47:46 PM EST
    About her opine on Syrian rebel arming.  Just take the vacation girl :)....relax

    Parent
    Obama deserves credit for pushing (none / 0) (#6)
    by Green26 on Thu Aug 14, 2014 at 07:07:54 PM EST
    to get Maliki out and somewhat sticking with his threats when some were saying the US should get back involved in Iraq. Some would argue that Maliki should have been pushed out a number of years ago.

    I've mentioned this very good op-ed previously and tried to link it, but not sure if the link worked. So, I'll link again. This is a very informative read.

    "By 2010, however, I was urging the vice president of the United States and the White House senior staff to withdraw their support for Maliki. I had come to realize that if he remained in office, he would create a divisive, despotic and sectarian government that would rip the country apart and devastate American interests."

    "In 2006, I helped introduce him to the U.S. ambassador, recommending him as a promising option for prime minister. In 2008, I organized his medevac when he fell ill, and I accompanied him for treatment in London, spending 18 hours a day with him at Wellington Hospital. In 2009, I lobbied skeptical regional royals to support Maliki's government."

    "Crocker and Petraeus met with the prime minister several hours a day, virtually every day, for nearly two years."

    "With the Obama administration vowing to end Bush's "dumb war," and the continued distraction of the global economic crisis, Maliki seized an opportunity. He began a systematic campaign to destroy the Iraqi state and replace it with his private office and his political party."

    Parent

    Maliki's leaving (none / 0) (#4)
    by NYShooter on Thu Aug 14, 2014 at 06:35:28 PM EST
    was the first, irrefutable, requirement for there to be any hope for a successful ending to this ongoing, mortal saga.

    We should know pretty soon (past the rhetoric) whether al-Abadi is a real improvement, or, not.

    #2 is whether the Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites can form a coalition entity fighting against ISIL. "My enemy's enemy," and, all that.

    It's either that, or, form three countries.

    The irony (none / 0) (#5)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Aug 14, 2014 at 07:04:53 PM EST
    is that Joe Biden suggested three countries a long time ago. Too bad no one listened to him.

    Parent
    I'll give Joe credit (none / 0) (#7)
    by NYShooter on Thu Aug 14, 2014 at 09:13:51 PM EST
    for being far sighted. But, Iraq wasn't listening, nor, ready for "far sighted" at that time.

    However, times have changed, and, staring into the barrel of an AK-47 tends to perk up one's ears.

    Parent

    Nuri al-Maliki Gives Up, Will Leave Office | 7 comments (7 topical)

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