No obligation to compensate US – analyst

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi government is not legally obliged to compensate the United States for its losses in Iraq, international legal expert Sardar Qadir said today.   Political analyst Qadir told IraqiNews.com that “the Iraqi government has no responsiblities with regards to the compensation of U.S. forces. These forces did not enter the country via a direct request from the government, as it had no sovereignty at the time, despite assisting the opposition groups against the previous government.”   “The U.S. has the right to compensations for any damages caused by Iraqi institutions or forces that will affect its interests in Iraq,” he continued.   “I think this demand is a form of pressure on the Iraqi government to request an extension in the presence of U.S. forces,” he elaborated.   Qadir pointed out that the expulsion of the U.S. Congressional Delegation will “have certain repercussions with the United States,” but this expulsion “came as a compromise for Iraqi parties who reject the American presence in Iraq.”   This is a reference to religious Sadrist leader Muqtada al-Sadr who threatened to fight against the U.S. forces if they continued to stay in Iraq.   “Iraq needs to minimize diplomatic obstacles with the United States, as U.S. assistance is needed to get rid of UN Chapter VII. This will help in Iraq becoming a fully sovereign state, particularly on the international level, and facilitating in obtaining loans and economic facilities,” he added.   Qadir expected an increase in terrorist attacks if the latter realized a misunderstanding is ongoing between the United States and the government.   Iraqi government speaker Ali al-Dabbagh announced in press statement that the Iraqi government demanded the departure of the U.S. Congressional Delegation in protest to statements made by some of its members regarding the Iranian opposition Mujahidi Khalq (The people) and demanding compensations from the Iraqi government for “U.S. sacrifices in Iraq.”   The U.S. Congressional Delegation arrived yesterday (Friday) and discussed with Premier Nouri al-Maliki bilateral relations and the developments in the Arab region. RM (TR)/SR 722