Peace in Middle East by 2009?

[therealjjj77]

Iran leader warns Iraqi PM over US troops

1 hour ago

TEHRAN (AFP) — Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday warned Iraq's visiting prime minister against signing an agreement with the United States keeping foreign troops in the country beyond 2008.

The continued presence of US troops was Iraq's "fundamental problem," Khamenei told Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, expressing confidence that Iran's western neighbour would dash the "dreams" of the United States.

The meeting -- on the final day of Maliki's third visit to Tehran as prime minister -- came amid alarm in Iran over the mooted Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) pact between Baghdad and Washington.

"The most fundamental problem of Iraq is the presence of the foreign forces," Khamenei told Maliki in comments reported by state television.

"We are certain that the Iraqi people will pass the difficult circumstances and reach the status they deserve. For sure, the American dreams will not materialise."

Washington and Baghdad are in negotiations aimed at signing the deal by the end of July to cover the presence of foreign troops beyond 2008...

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j0BRrQ53Mwc3GdhGvuu_mMQs3LHQ

What about writing letters to the PM of Iraq requesting that he not sign the deal? Would that send a strong message when sent by Americans?

We don't have much time if July is when the signing is to take place.

 

[amy31416]

That would certainly be interesting. I don't know if this sort of thing has been tried before.

 

[therealjjj77]

Trying to get a mailing address. If anyone else knows of one, that would be great. Please post it.

 

[SnappleLlama]

Can we send mail directly to the PM? Is that possible?

 

[SnappleLlama]

Here's a link (scroll down the page) to a site with the ambassador contact info:

http://www.indexmundi.com/iraq/government_profile.html

 

[Conza88]

Peace in the Middle East - comes in the form of World Government...

 

[therealjjj77]

Here's a link (scroll down the page) to a site with the ambassador contact info:

http://www.indexmundi.com/iraq/government_profile.html

That's not the address for the Prime Minister's office. However, it may be a starting point to getting that information. I already tried calling them this morning and got a message machine. I will try again later today.

 

[SnappleLlama]

That's not the address for the Prime Minister's office. However, it may be a starting point to getting that information. I already tried calling them this morning and got a message machine. I will try again later today.

Yeah, I just figured that going through amabassadors might be the "right" way of going about it. I'm not too sure about international etiquette, though

 

[pinkmandy]

I'd be happy to write a letter.

 

[Cinderella]

Federal Reserve Holds Iraq's $50bn Hostage With Military Deal

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...foreign-reserves-in-military-deal-841407.html

The US is holding hostage some $50bn (£25bn) of Iraq's money in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to pressure the Iraqi government into signing an agreement seen by many Iraqis as prolonging the US occupation indefinitely, according to information leaked to The Independent.
US negotiators are using the existence of $20bn in outstanding court judgments against Iraq in the US, to pressure their Iraqi counterparts into accepting the terms of the military deal, details of which were reported for the first time in this newspaper yesterday.

Iraq's foreign reserves are currently protected by a presidential order giving them immunity from judicial attachment but the US side in the talks has suggested that if the UN mandate, under which the money is held, lapses and is not replaced by the new agreement, then Iraq's funds would lose this immunity. The cost to Iraq of this happening would be the immediate loss of $20bn. The US is able to threaten Iraq with the loss of 40 per cent of its foreign exchange reserves because Iraq's independence is still limited by the legacy of UN sanctions and restrictions imposed on Iraq since Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in the 1990s. This means that Iraq is still considered a threat to international security and stability under Chapter Seven of the UN charter. The US negotiators say the price of Iraq escaping Chapter Seven is to sign up to a new "strategic alliance" with the United States.

The threat by the American side underlines the personal commitment of President George Bush to pushing the new pact through by 31 July. Although it is in reality a treaty between Iraq and the US, Mr Bush is describing it as an alliance so he does not have to submit it for approval to the US Senate.

Iraqi critics of the agreement say that it means Iraq will be a client state in which the US will keep more than 50 military bases. American forces will be able to carry out arrests of Iraqi citizens and conduct military campaigns without consultation with the Iraqi government. American soldiers and contractors will enjoy legal immunity.


get the full story by clicking the link above

 

[rprprs]

Thanks for posting the above, Cinderella. Very interesting...and infuriating.

 

[Ozwest]

Look forward to an attack on Iran by Israel to boost McCain's stocks.

 

[Cinderella]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...foreign-reserves-in-military-deal-841407.html

The US is holding hostage some $50bn (£25bn) of Iraq's money in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to pressure the Iraqi government into signing an agreement seen by many Iraqis as prolonging the US occupation indefinitely, according to information leaked to The Independent.
US negotiators are using the existence of $20bn in outstanding court judgments against Iraq in the US, to pressure their Iraqi counterparts into accepting the terms of the military deal, details of which were reported for the first time in this newspaper yesterday.

Iraq's foreign reserves are currently protected by a presidential order giving them immunity from judicial attachment but the US side in the talks has suggested that if the UN mandate, under which the money is held, lapses and is not replaced by the new agreement, then Iraq's funds would lose this immunity. The cost to Iraq of this happening would be the immediate loss of $20bn. The US is able to threaten Iraq with the loss of 40 per cent of its foreign exchange reserves because Iraq's independence is still limited by the legacy of UN sanctions and restrictions imposed on Iraq since Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in the 1990s. This means that Iraq is still considered a threat to international security and stability under Chapter Seven of the UN charter. The US negotiators say the price of Iraq escaping Chapter Seven is to sign up to a new "strategic alliance" with the United States.

The threat by the American side underlines the personal commitment of President George Bush to pushing the new pact through by 31 July. Although it is in reality a treaty between Iraq and the US, Mr Bush is describing it as an alliance so he does not have to submit it for approval to the US Senate.

Iraqi critics of the agreement say that it means Iraq will be a client state in which the US will keep more than 50 military bases. American forces will be able to carry out arrests of Iraqi citizens and conduct military campaigns without consultation with the Iraqi government. American soldiers and contractors will enjoy legal immunity.


get the full story by clicking the link above

bump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[therealjjj77]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...foreign-reserves-in-military-deal-841407.html

The US is holding hostage some $50bn (£25bn) of Iraq's money in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to pressure the Iraqi government into signing an agreement seen by many Iraqis as prolonging the US occupation indefinitely, according to information leaked to The Independent.
US negotiators are using the existence of $20bn in outstanding court judgments against Iraq in the US, to pressure their Iraqi counterparts into accepting the terms of the military deal, details of which were reported for the first time in this newspaper yesterday.

Iraq's foreign reserves are currently protected by a presidential order giving them immunity from judicial attachment but the US side in the talks has suggested that if the UN mandate, under which the money is held, lapses and is not replaced by the new agreement, then Iraq's funds would lose this immunity. The cost to Iraq of this happening would be the immediate loss of $20bn. The US is able to threaten Iraq with the loss of 40 per cent of its foreign exchange reserves because Iraq's independence is still limited by the legacy of UN sanctions and restrictions imposed on Iraq since Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in the 1990s. This means that Iraq is still considered a threat to international security and stability under Chapter Seven of the UN charter. The US negotiators say the price of Iraq escaping Chapter Seven is to sign up to a new "strategic alliance" with the United States.

The threat by the American side underlines the personal commitment of President George Bush to pushing the new pact through by 31 July. Although it is in reality a treaty between Iraq and the US, Mr Bush is describing it as an alliance so he does not have to submit it for approval to the US Senate.

Iraqi critics of the agreement say that it means Iraq will be a client state in which the US will keep more than 50 military bases. American forces will be able to carry out arrests of Iraqi citizens and conduct military campaigns without consultation with the Iraqi government. American soldiers and contractors will enjoy legal immunity.


get the full story by clicking the link above

Wow. That's an interesting story too. Maybe some letters from Americans stating how our dollar is declining in value due to it not being backed by anything along with our respect for him and his country and how we believe that our government should mind it's own business, etc., might get him to overlook this bully tactic from the US government and make a decision that's best for Iraqis.

 

[rathskeller]

Chances of him reading your letters? 0.0000001%.

 

[Omnis]

Does al-Maliki even know English?