No more high horses in Iraq

February 8 2009

No more high horses in Iraq


THE IRAQI government says that the US military is not respecting the status of forces agreement signed in December that includes a clause that calls for co-ordination with the Iraqi authorities before operations targeting Iraqis.
In one such incident, American soldiers killed and shot an Iraqi couple in their home near Kirkuk in northern Iraq and wounded their eight-year-old daughter. In another, American soldiers shot and killed an elderly Iraqi man outside Kirkuk. Whatever the circumstances under which the US soldiers opened fire, there was no consideration that exempted the US military from the requirement to co-ordinate with local Iraqi authorities.
In both cases, American soldiers simply stormed the residences of the victims and opened fire. Local police said they had no prior knowledge of the raids. Iraqi policemen who went to the scenes of attack were prevented from entering the area by American soldiers.
This a blatant violation of the provision in the status of forces agreement calling for American troops to have “full co-ordination with Iraqi authorities” ahead of any operation targeting Iraqis. The US military is continuing as if no such agreement exists and is pressing ahead with operations as the case was before the signing of the accord in December after months of haggling.
Some reports indicate that US Special Forces units are carrying out arbitrary attacks against Iraqis without informing the local Iraqi authorities. The US military commanders in the areas where the attacks took place saying that they were not informed in advance of the raids.
Whatever might be the reason, such behaviour sparks anger among Iraqis, including those who co-operate with the US military in the anti-insurgency battle in the country. That is indeed a serious challenge since the elements are in place for a full-scale resumption of a war of resistance against the US. If that happens, then out goes any chance of a US departure from Iraq as called for in the status of forces agreement.
Parallel to that consideration is the fact that arbitrary American military operations against Iraqis weaken the government of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki. Perhaps one of the reasons for the US violation of the agreement is that the US military does not want to be bound by any restriction in its operations in Iraq.
At the same time, the US might also want to clip the wings of the Iraqi government, particularly that Maliki's party emerged as the main winner in the recent provincial elections in the country. This has boosted Maliki, who has been consistently displaying increased measures of independence that has been disturbing to the US.
Whatever the reason, whatever the circumstance, the US military needs to support the authority of the Iraqi government rather than challenge it if the Obama administration were to hope for a smooth military withdrawal from Iraq as it has promised. The region is indeed pinning hopes that the Obama administration is serious and remains committed to the pledge. We are looking forward to a US departure from Iraq and the people of Iraq gaining full control of their lives. Nothing should be allowed to stand in the way of that prized goal even if it means that the US military has to climb down from its high horse.