Printer-friendly VersionThe Kurdish Globe
Iraqi PM al-Maliki is certain that the U.S. military will never again be asked to partake in combat operations in Iraq. "It's finished," he stated.
Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabagh announced on Monday that the government has completed necessary procedures for U.S. troops to exit Iraqi cities and towns by June 30.
Al-Dabagh remarked that "some American technician forces will stay for training and advising purposes to the Iraqi forces according to Article 24 of [the SOFA] agreement."
This is the first step in the withdrawal of American forces as was agreed upon in the U.S-Iraqi security pact signed at the end of 2008. All U.S. combat forces are supposed to leave Iraq by August 2010, and a full withdrawal is scheduled for the end of 2011.
Al-Dabagh's statement came during a joint press conference in Baghdad with Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani, Defense Minister Abdul-Qadir al-Ubaidi, and the commander of American forces in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno.
"The U.S. forces will not take part in combat operations except when demand comes from the Iraqi government," said al-Dabagh, noting that the submission of American military bases to Iraqi forces will take place gradually over the next two and a half years.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told the French daily "Le Monde" that all his government would request of American forces is logistical assistance. Maliki said Baghdad would only call on U.S. forces "to transport our troops when we need them because we don't have any planes. That is why we are purchasing helicopters from France and the United States.
"We will not ask them to intervene in combat operations or in operations related to maintaining public order," the Iraqi premier said. "It is finished."
Gen. Odierno said at the press conference that he remains "absolutely committed" to withdrawing combat troops from Iraqi urban areas. He did not say how many technicians will remain in the cities: "We will not get into any specific numbers, but it is a very small number."
The restive northern city of Mosul is also included within this step of withdrawal, although Gen. Odierno had earlier this year said that Mosul might be one of the cities the American combat troops remain in. "I feel much more comfortable with the situation in Mosul now," Odierno said. Violence and tensions in Mosul have declined, he noted.
After U.S. troops withdraw from Kirkuk city, another restive and politically disputed province, Turkmen political figures request more Iraqi forces in the province. The issue, however, is absolutely rejected by Kurds in the city.
Ali Mahdi, leader of a Turkmen party in Kirkuk, told radio Sawa that he fears Kurdish forces will maintain the city after the American forces leave. He added that a national Iraqi force comprised of all ethnic components is needed to protect the city.
But Ahmed al-Askari, a leader from the Kurdish bloc in the Kirkuk provincial council, warned that bringing in more Iraqi forces to the city will cause "troubles," and he expressed his rejection to more deployment of Iraqi government forces there. Alternatively, al-Askari called for enhancing and supporting the Iraqi police in Kirkuk so that security gaps can be filled after American forces withdraw.