Iraqi gov’t snubs U.S. military offical statement on security pact

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraq government on Wednesday said it deemed U.S. military officials on the security deal as “inappropriate.” “We received with concerns statements from U.S. Chief of Staffs Michael Mullen and they are unwelcome in Iraq,” Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabagh said in a statement received by IraqiNews.com. U.S. military chief Michael Mullen bluntly warned Iraq on Tuesday that it risked security losses of “significant consequence” unless it approves an agreement on a legal basis for U.S. forces. “All Iraqi political  factions considered the importance of signing the U.S.-Iraq security pact and well understand its overreaching consequence,” the spokesman noted. “The deal must not impose on Iraqi’s will and the statement was inappropriate way to address Iraqis,” he stressed. U.S. president George W. Bush and Maliki agreed last November to sign the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) in Iraq by the end of July, but it has been delayed. The proposed pact will decide the future presence of American forces in Iraq after the December 31 expiry of the UN mandate, which currently acts as the legal basis for their presence in the country. The agreement provides for U.S. troops to leave Baghdad and other Iraqi cities by the end of June and fully withdraw from the country by the end of 2011 unless the government asks them to stay or further turbulence rocks the country. It would also give Iraq limited authority to prosecute U.S. soldiers and contractors for crimes committed off-base and off-duty, limit U.S. authority to search homes and detain people and give Iraqis more say in the conduct of American military operations. AM (S)/SR 1