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Iran wants to undermine US-Iraq troops deal: Pentagon
Washington (AFP) Oct 22, 2008 Iran is seeking to "undermine" and "derail" an almost completed US-Iraqi agreement governing the long-term presence of US troops in Iraq beyond 2008, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said Wednesday. Morrell told a Pentagon press briefing that "Iranian meddling in Iraq takes on all forms." "In its most destructive, devious and deadly ways, it has to do with the flow of arms and weapons into Iraq," Morrell said, adding that officials had seen a recent decline in that flow. "But there are, of course, counterbalancing negatives, one of which is clearly an attempt by the Iranians to undermine, undercut, derail the SOFA (status of forces) agreement," he said. The Iranians "have made their displeasure with this agreement known, and have tried to influence Iraqis in all -- in all manner of ways." General Ray Odierno "talked about intelligence pointing to attempted bribes," Morrell said, referring to recent remarks by the commanding US general in Iraq that Iraqi leaders criticized as "inappropriate." Odierno "never said or suggested that Iraqis, Iraqi politicians, would ever take such bribes. But there is nothing too low for some of these Iranian operatives to try," Morrell said. He added: "Despite attempts by the Iranians to derail this agreement, they have not been successful, and I hope they will not be successful." The White House said Wednesday that the SOFA agreement, which has been the subject of months of tough negotiations, was more or less done, and any amendments would be merely fine-tuning. The draft deal calls for a withdrawal of US combat forces by the end of 2011 and includes US concessions on jurisdiction over its troops accused of "serious crimes" while off duty or off base. To the apparent frustration of the Americans, the Iraqi cabinet decided on Tuesday to seek certain revisions, triggering warnings from top US military and political figures about the risks of not having a deal. But Iraq warned it would not be bullied into signing the security pact. "It is not correct to force Iraqis into making a choice and it is not appropriate to talk with the Iraqis in this way," Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said. Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani, during a visit to Bahrain, said Wednesday that the SOFA deal "encroaches on the sovereignty (of Iraq), and does not allow the creation of a strong government." Some Shiite Iraqi officials in Baghdad who chose to remain anonymous feared Iran's reactions spelled the end of the US-Iraqi agreement. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Iran says US-Baghdad pact harms Iraq sovereignty
Manama (AFP) Oct 22, 2008Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani lashed out on Wednesday at the security deal being negotiated between Baghdad and Washington, saying it impinged on Iraqi sovereignty. |
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