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Maliki Is US Pawn No Longer

Posted Sep 16, 08 1:20 PM CDT in World 

(Newser) – With just four months left on America’s UN mandate to police Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki is playing hardball. Once seen as an embattled US puppet, the Iraqi PM has consolidated his power, and is turning visibly away from his former backers in Washington, the Los Angeles Times reports. He’s demanding a tight leash on US troops, including a withdrawal from all cities by June.

As US influence decreases, Iran’s is rising, bolstered by burgeoning economic ties and a belief that, as one Shiite put it, “The Iranians will stay in this place till Judgment Day and the Americans will withdraw.” The tougher Maliki is also more popular among Iraqi Shiites, but Sunnis worry about America’s reduced status. “They are acting only as spectators,” lamented one Sunni politician.

Source Los Angeles Times

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"The prime minister has shown everyone he means business," said an Iraqi lawmaker close to Nouri al-Maliki. "Not everything America wants, America can get."   (AP Photo)
In this photo released by the Iraqi Government, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, right, meets U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Iraqi Government, HO)
Victories over key militias has boosted the credibility of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.   (AP Photo)
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If the next president waits too long, our diminishing leverage will likely disappear altogether. - Colin Kahl, Iraq expert at the Center for a New American Security

The prime minister has shown everyone he means business. Not everything America wants, America
can get.
- Sami Askari, member of parliament and close Maliki advisor

The Iranians will stay in this place forever till the Judgment Day and the Americans will withdraw. - Sheik Jalaluddin Saghir, senior Shiite politician

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
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Iraq • Iran • Nouri al-Maliki • Shiite • Sunni • Awakening Councils • Status of Forces Agreement


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