ID :
212467
Wed, 10/12/2011 - 14:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/212467
The shortlink copeid
Sadr Movement Strongly Opposed to Deployment of NATO Forces in Iraq
TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior member of the Shiite Sadr Movement voiced people's strong opposition to the deployment of the NATO forces in Iraq, describing such plans as a "ridiculous idea".
"The Sadr Movement strongly condemns the yesterday statements of the Iraqi prime minister (Nuri al-Maliki) on the deployment of the NATO forces in Iraq's soil and believes that such remarks are against the will of the Iraqi nation and that they will never accept such a thing," Hussein al-Sharifi told FNA on Wednesday.
He underlined the necessity for the pullout of all occupying forces from Iraq as a main demand of all Iraqi people, and said, "The Sadr Movement is still opposed to the presence of the US occupying forces under any name and any pretext."
Sharifi's remarks came after the Monday statements by Maliki that US troops might still be able to stay in Iraq as trainers beyond a 2011 withdrawal date, even though the country's political blocs have rejected giving immunity to any American soldiers.
Maliki told Reuters US troops could be attached to the existing US embassy training mission, or join a broader NATO training group, rather than seek a bilateral deal requiring US immunity that would fail to pass Iraq's parliament.
"Since the need for training exists and all the political blocs acknowledge that, we have a number of choices. Now there is a dialogue between us and the Americans," Maliki said in an interview at his presidential residence in Baghdad.
"We are heading toward securing trainers and experts for the American weapons we purchased, but without immunity and without going to parliament."
The US military agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington at the end of November 2008 stipulates the withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq by December 31, 2011 as a deadline.
But, the US has been pressing senior Iraqi officials to revise their decision on the US pullout and demand Washington to keep its troops in the country beyond their scheduled departure in the yearend.
Iraqi state officials as well as religious and political figures have all condemned the US attempts to extend the mission of its troops in the country.
A large number of Iraqi politicians and religious leaders believe that the US is seeking to find or even create a pretext for extending its military presence in the country.
Last month, a prominent member of the Iraqi parliament cautioned that the US has slowed down training of Iraq's security forces in a bid to find an excuse to prolong its military presence in the war-torn country.
"The US has deliberately avoided strengthening the Iraqi forces and refrained from providing them with the necessary training in an attempt to prepare the ground for extending the security deal for a number of years," Nabil Harbo, who is a member of al-Iraqiya Coalition, told FNA at the time.
The lawmaker lashed out at the US for its inaction in fulfilling its undertakings as stipulated in the Baghdad-Washington security deal, and stressed training Iraq's forces is merely an excuse for a longer occupation of the country.
"The Sadr Movement strongly condemns the yesterday statements of the Iraqi prime minister (Nuri al-Maliki) on the deployment of the NATO forces in Iraq's soil and believes that such remarks are against the will of the Iraqi nation and that they will never accept such a thing," Hussein al-Sharifi told FNA on Wednesday.
He underlined the necessity for the pullout of all occupying forces from Iraq as a main demand of all Iraqi people, and said, "The Sadr Movement is still opposed to the presence of the US occupying forces under any name and any pretext."
Sharifi's remarks came after the Monday statements by Maliki that US troops might still be able to stay in Iraq as trainers beyond a 2011 withdrawal date, even though the country's political blocs have rejected giving immunity to any American soldiers.
Maliki told Reuters US troops could be attached to the existing US embassy training mission, or join a broader NATO training group, rather than seek a bilateral deal requiring US immunity that would fail to pass Iraq's parliament.
"Since the need for training exists and all the political blocs acknowledge that, we have a number of choices. Now there is a dialogue between us and the Americans," Maliki said in an interview at his presidential residence in Baghdad.
"We are heading toward securing trainers and experts for the American weapons we purchased, but without immunity and without going to parliament."
The US military agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington at the end of November 2008 stipulates the withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq by December 31, 2011 as a deadline.
But, the US has been pressing senior Iraqi officials to revise their decision on the US pullout and demand Washington to keep its troops in the country beyond their scheduled departure in the yearend.
Iraqi state officials as well as religious and political figures have all condemned the US attempts to extend the mission of its troops in the country.
A large number of Iraqi politicians and religious leaders believe that the US is seeking to find or even create a pretext for extending its military presence in the country.
Last month, a prominent member of the Iraqi parliament cautioned that the US has slowed down training of Iraq's security forces in a bid to find an excuse to prolong its military presence in the war-torn country.
"The US has deliberately avoided strengthening the Iraqi forces and refrained from providing them with the necessary training in an attempt to prepare the ground for extending the security deal for a number of years," Nabil Harbo, who is a member of al-Iraqiya Coalition, told FNA at the time.
The lawmaker lashed out at the US for its inaction in fulfilling its undertakings as stipulated in the Baghdad-Washington security deal, and stressed training Iraq's forces is merely an excuse for a longer occupation of the country.
