U.S. Says Cannot Force Iraqis to Agree Government

[k98nights]

U.S. Says Cannot Force Iraqis to Agree Government

June 21, 2010

LONDON (Reuters) - Iraqi politicians must agree among themselves on forming a new government and the United States cannot tell them what to do, the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad said on Monday.

Iraqis hoped the March 7 election would bring stability as the United States prepares to end combat operations in August before a full troop pullout by the end of 2011.

Instead, weeks of sniping and challenges to the result have exposed the growing pains of Iraq's nascent democracy, with the chief factions at loggerheads over who will lead the government.

Christopher Hill, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, said a lot of people had asked why the United States did not simply tell the Iraqis what to do.

But he said this had not happened in 2006, when a government of national unity was cobbled together by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki after long negotiations and the United States was playing a more influential role.

"So it's rather mystifying to me why people think I can go in and tell Prime Minister Maliki 'you either make a coalition with him or you get out', this sort of thing. It's not going to work," he said, speaking at London's Chatham House think-tank.

No party won the parliamentary election outright. A cross-sectarian alliance heavily backed by minority Sunnis came out two seats ahead of Maliki's Shi'ite-led State of Law coalition, which has since linked with another Shi'ite bloc.

Despite the difficulties, Hill said he believed Iraqi politicians would succeed in forming a new government.

"They are going to have to figure out their way forward," he said. "We will do all we can to help ... but we cannot tell the Iraqis how to form their own government."

Bloodshed has risen since the election, dashing Iraqis' hopes of stability seven years after the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. Nevertheless, Hill said the United States would stand by its commitment to withdraw its forces next year.

"It's very important that Iraqis understand that we signed a security agreement and we will live up to that security agreement 100 percent," he said.

(Reporting by Adrian Croft; editing by Peter Graff)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=10974803

[carlablum]

US cannot force Iraqis to form government

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 11:55 GMT

US Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill stressed that Iraqi politicians should agree to form a new government.

The United States cannot force leaders to form the government, Hill said.

In 2006 when the US had more power in Iraq, it did not pressure Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki to form the government, and it will not do it now, he added.

Hill stressed the importance of realizing that the US and Iraq have signed a security agreement. The US will fully commit to the agreement, he continued.

http://www.alsumaria...government.html

[DesertEagle]

U.S. says cannot force Iraqis to agree government

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Mon Jun 21, 5:20 pm ET

LONDON (Reuters) – Iraqi politicians must agree among themselves on forming a new government and the United States cannot tell them what to do, the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad said on Monday.

Iraqis hoped the March 7 election would bring stability as the United States prepares to end combat operations in August before a full troop pullout by the end of 2011.

Instead, weeks of sniping and challenges to the result have exposed the growing pains of Iraq's nascent democracy, with the chief factions at loggerheads over who will lead the government.

Christopher Hill, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, said a lot of people had asked why the United States did not simply tell the Iraqis what to do.

But he said this had not happened in 2006, when a government of national unity was cobbled together by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki after long negotiations and the United States was playing a more influential role.

"So it's rather mystifying to me why people think I can go in and tell Prime Minister Maliki 'you either make a coalition with him or you get out', this sort of thing. It's not going to work," he said, speaking at London's Chatham House think-tank.

No party won the parliamentary election outright. A cross-sectarian alliance heavily backed by minority Sunnis came out two seats ahead of Maliki's Shi'ite-led State of Law coalition, which has since linked with another Shi'ite bloc.

Despite the difficulties, Hill said he believed Iraqi politicians would succeed in forming a new government.

"They are going to have to figure out their way forward," he said. "We will do all we can to help ... but we cannot tell the Iraqis how to form their own government."

Bloodshed has risen since the election, dashing Iraqis' hopes of stability seven years after the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. Nevertheless, Hill said the United States would stand by its commitment to withdraw its forces next year.

"It's very important that Iraqis understand that we signed a security agreement and we will live up to that security agreement 100 percent," he said.

[Traconesu02]

Thanks for the post DesertEagle.

[Squaredaway]

I, naturally, disagree with the wuss from the State Department. We, as the victor in a war that we initiated to get rid of the tyrannical form of government that Iraq had, have the prerogative to form their government for them if they don't get off their golden hope chests and do it themselves. Every day that goes by without a government formed allows the "leaders" to pillage the Iraqi treasury with no accounting for their actions. A unified U.N. military force is exactly what is needed to force the government to be formed now to bring political, economic order to Iraq. All the rhetoric about how the U.S. cannot force the Iraqis to form a government is bull!! Just look at Japan and Germany. It didn't take long to get their act together as long as they had MacArthur there with a cattle prod guiding the way.

[drox]

I have no idea how the US appointed Chris Hill to this post. If you ever hear him talk or read a transcript he sounds like some Frat boy that chose beer the night before over studying, but is presenting his speech to the class anyway. His thoughts are barely connected and coherent. I thought he was being replaced by Jim Jeffrey anyway???

The thing is... he is protecting our position that the US is not getting involved. That we are not creating a puppet regime. Notice that he does not say that the UN won't. Only himself and the United States. This will come down to a UN decision. Clearly that is comedy relief in itself because they are so chicken**** and always seem to wait to follow the US's lead in tough foreign policy decisions. Then they can criticize the US afterward depending on world sentiment. So...Obama is yielding here to the UN to make a decision on intervening and is steadfast in troop removal date. The UN is clearly befuddled and hoping it works itself out before the troop withdrawal. Remember... the world wanted a kinder, gentler, more charismatic guy in office. Well you got it and he is letting you make the call.

Take your freaking hands out of your pockets Ban Ki Moon... time to lead bro! Quit whistling and looking the other way! Otherwise step aside and let someone else make a decision. Jump in and force a deadline in 14 days or tell them the UN will appoint one for them. Pretty freaking easy if you ask me!

[powerpager]

THEY JUST HAVE TO SNIPE , CHALLENGE and DELAY !!!

[Traconesu02]

US cannot force Iraqis to form government

Wednesday, June 23, 2010 09:55 GMT US Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill stressed that Iraqi politicians should agree to form a new government.

The United States cannot force leaders to form the government, Hill said.

In 2006 when the US had more power in Iraq, it did not pressure Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki to form the government, and it will not do it now, he added.

Hill stressed the importance of realizing that the US and Iraq have signed a security agreement. The US will fully commit to the agreement, he continued.

http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-50819-US-cannot-force-Iraqis-to-form-government.html