Bush, Iraq's Maliki to talk about Iraqi security forces
Iraq-USA, Politics, 11/27/2006

US President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will consult on the security situation in Iraq on Wednesday and Thursday.

Bush will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Amman, Jordan to hear a report by a joint US-Iraqi commission tasked with accelerating the transfer of security responsibility to Iraqi forces.

According to a joint statement released by Bush and Maliki November 21, the two leaders will consult on the security situation in Iraq, including current developments and the role of Iraq's neighbors, as well as the progress of the commission in its deliberations over "transferring security and responsibility" from coalition forces to Iraqi security forces.

In a briefing en route to Andrews Air Force Base November 21, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said the joint commission had been asked to examine "ways we could strengthen Iraqi security forces and give Iraqis and the Iraqi government and the prime minister more control over those forces." Bush and Maliki also will be reviewing the general situation and discussing how to move ahead "in a more effective and expeditious way."

Bush will "want to hear what Prime Minister Maliki wants to say, who's obviously been developing his own ideas on the way forward," Hadley said.

The meeting comes immediately after Bush's visit to Riga, Latvia, for the NATO Summit November 28-29. Hadley said Jordan was selected as the venue because the country "has been very helpful and supportive of the unity government in Iraq." An National Public Radio commentator said Jordan was chosen for security reasons.

Hadley also said "I think everyone would agree and as the President has said, things are not proceeding well or fast enough, and that's something I think Prime Minister Maliki agrees. And so the opportunity is for the two leaders to talk about the way forward. Obviously, Iraq is going to be critical in that, and the President wants to hear from Prime Minister Maliki what his strategy -- what his vision and strategy is, going forward."

He said "As we've said, you know, the goal for Iraq remains the same: A democratic Iraq that is able to govern itself, defend itself, sustain itself and is an ally in the war on terror. But we're clearly in a new phase, characterized by this increasing sectarian violence. That requires us, obviously, to adapt to that new phase and these two leaders need to be talking about how to do that and what steps Iraq needs to take and how we can support them."

He added "And let me also say that there's been a lot of discussion within the American press about the need to adapt our strategy, a lot of discussion about Baker-Hamilton, a lot of discussion on talk shows, a lot in the press about ideas about the way ahead for Iraq. And it's important, I think, for the President to send the message to Prime Minister Maliki that while he is listening to all of these voices for ideas, is open to ideas, that in the end of the day to reassure Prime Minister Maliki that it is the President who will be crafting the way forward on Iraq and to reassure Prime Minister Maliki it will be done in a way that is cooperative with Iraq, rather than imposed on Iraq, so that we come out of this process with a strategy that is an Iraqi strategy and a strategy that we share and can support."
Asked about meetings between Iraq and its neighbors Syria and Iran, Hadley said direct talks are "important," and that they allow Iraq to "make it clear to them that they need to play a positive role in seeking security, stability and democracy in Iraq." Iraq's president today is in Iran. Iran said it is willing to help Iraq.

Reacting today to a question about the critical situation in Iraq, and that over the weekend when there was so much violence, especially in Sadr City, there were a lot of reports about how the Mahdi Army and militias were the ones actually providing services and trying to recover victims and those type of things in fact that the government was not. And the need to crack down on militias, and if there is any way to kind of work with the militias to help provide security and safety in the country because there are some people, many people in Iraq that are saying that it's in fact these militias, the Mahdi Army, the Badr Brigades that are actually providing them with their security right now, US Department Of State spokesman Sean McCormack replied that " the Mahdi Army and the other groups. There are a plethora of these militias. And you talked about the Mahdi Army in particular, I don't think that that is a monolithic entity. In terms of the plan for dealing with militias, the Prime Minister Maliki and his government are working on a national reconciliation plan because ultimately you have to address the issue in all of its various aspects, economic, political and as well as other aspects if you're going to finally bring all the elements of Iraqi society together. So they are working on that issue, on a plan to address the issue of militias as well as other issues. Ultimately, how that gets sorted out and how they deal with it is going to be up to the Iraqis. We -- you can't impose a plan on them. You can't sort of waive a wand and say here's the plan and it's going to work. If it's going to work, then it has to be the Iraqis that develop it and the Iraqis that actually deal with the issue."

This comes amid increasing number of Iraqi, US, and other officials who see the Iraqi situation as critical and near a civil war. Also, a New York Times report two days ago said that a US classified report found that "The insurgency in Iraq is now self-sustaining financially, raising tens of millions of dollars a year from oil smuggling, kidnapping, counterfeiting, connivance by corrupt Islamic charities and other crimes that the Iraqi government and its American patrons have been largely unable to prevent."

Previous Stories:
  Protecting Sunnis in Western Iraq 'Complicated,' US General   (11/18/2006)
  Abizaid: Iraq at center of regional issues   (11/18/2006)
  Iraq Study Group results may influence US action   (11/18/2006)

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