BAGHDAD - The US military has advised Iraqi authorities that it will have to shut down security and service operations in Iraq if the year ends without a security agreement or a renewed UN mandate for American forces, Iraqi officials said yesterday.
Good! Then that is LESS PEOPLE DEAD!
If parliament does not approve the deal before the UN mandate expires on Dec. 31, there will be no legal basis for the United States to operate in Iraq.
Can we LEAVE THEN?!
Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman said the United States had submitted papers identifying a number of activities that would stop at the end of the year in the absence of a legal framework. These include not only security operations but also infrastructure improvements and assistance to ministries.
"This is an obvious attempt at blackmail," Othman said. "The aim of this kind of pressure on the Iraqi government is unacceptable."
And IT WORKED!
"Iraqi Cabinet authorizes reopening of US talks
BAGHDAD --The Iraqi government spokesman says the Cabinet has authorized Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to reopen talks with the United States on a security pact. --more--"
