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New York, Dec 2 : The ongoing United States military drawdown in Iraq is making it more difficult for the United Nations to carry out its operations, which range from the humanitarian to the development to the political fields, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in his latest report on the country. "While there has been gradual progress over the past several years in making the United Nations more self-reliant in Iraq, certain security and logistical arrangements still being provided by the United States will need to be replaced," he writes in the report, in which he also cites continuing though lower-level violence and the need to build swiftly on gains in the political field to provide essential services to the Iraqi people. "While steps are being taken in this [security] regard, this will only be possible with strong financial support from Member States," he says, adding that overall the withdrawal of US forces is likely to have a short- to medium-term effect on the security situation as the central Government attempts to assert itself. Ban commends all political blocs for reaching agreements that appear to have ended the deadlock in forming a new government after elections in March. "The breakthrough represents a major milestone in democratic progress for Iraq and should pave the way for the first peaceful transition between elected governments under full Iraqi sovereignty," he says. He urges leaders to swiftly complete forming the new government and ensure that it is inclusive and broadly participatory, adding: "Progress in this regard will help put the country on the path towards democracy, national reconciliation and long-term stability." He calls for a new impetus to resolve the many political, socio-economic and security challenges, including disputed internal boundaries, particularly the status of Kirkuk, the sharing of natural resources, a revenue-sharing mechanism, hydrocarbon legislation, agreement on the balance between federal, regional, and provincial powers, and respect for human rights. "In consultation with the new Government of Iraq, UNAMI will continue to support efforts to resolve these outstanding issues," he says, referring to the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq. He calls the recently increasing number of security attacks "a major concern," voicing particular shock at the attack on the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Salvation in Baghdad, which left many dead and scores injured. "It underscores the fact that Christians and minorities in the country continue to face daily threats of violence and intimidation," he writes, also condemning the "heinous" attacks on Shia pilgrims in Karbala and Najaf. "I urge the Government of Iraq to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure that all Iraqis, regardless of their religious beliefs, are provided with adequate protection and are able to practice their faith in peace," he adds. Turning to development and reconstruction needs, he pledges continued UN support. "The formation of a new government will mean very little to ordinary Iraqis unless they begin to see tangible improvements in their lives, particularly in the delivery of essential services and the creation of new job opportunities," he warns. While the focus in Iraq is shifting to long-term development, there are still many humanitarian needs, particularly with respect to internally displaced persons and refugees, Ban writes, warning that no significant new contributions have been received for the Iraq Humanitarian Action Plan. "While thanking the donor community and the Government of Iraq for the support received to date, I reiterate my request for increased resources to allow the United Nations and its partners to continue their support of the vulnerable populations of Iraq," he declares. On human rights, Ban notes that the security situation continues to affect civilians, mostly through insurgent and extremist terrorism and violent gang crimes. UNAMI has observed some improvement in detention conditions in Kurdistan, including better living conditions and access to medical services in the facilities. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the report points out, have alleged that Iraqi domestic law and international human rights standards are being systematically violated, citing allegations of torture, ill-treatment and rape of detainees to extract confessions in both State and non-State illegal detention centres. Turning to UNAMI's role in the country, the UN Secretary-General cites its facilitation of dialogue between the Arab and Kurdish sides in the north, its continued engagement with the major parliamentary blocs on the status of the constitutional review process in the forthcoming legislative session, and its focus, together with other UN agencies, on key national development initiatives, including in the private sector and employment generation. "It is my sincere hope that with the formation of a new government, the security situation in the country will improve," he concludes. "However, Iraq will still remain a challenging operating environment in the foreseeable future." http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-96398.html

BAGHDAD -- Iraq's president formally nominated Nouri al-Maliki for a second term as the country's prime minister on Thursday, giving him 30 days to cobble together a government from competing factions that remain deeply divided and suspicious of his return to power. President Jalal Talabani first nominated Maliki when Iraq's new parliament met in a stormy session two weeks ago. But he delayed the formal designation required by the country's constitution until Thursday to give Maliki the maximum time to negotiate the competing demands of parliamentary blocs that covet leadership posts. Talabani, a Kurd who was re-elected two weeks ago, announced the nomination in a televised ceremony at his Peace Palace on the Tigris River. He was joined by leaders of all the major parties except al-Maliki's main rival, Ayad Allawi, a Shiite whose coalition won the support of most of Iraq's Sunnis. Talabani called on Maliki to form "a new government that we hope will be a government of national partnership and will not exclude anyone." It has been a long time coming. The elections for 325 members of the Council of Representative were held March 7, but legal challenges and political squabbling delayed first the results and then the convening of parliament through the summer and fall. Even if Maliki meets the 30-day deadline in late December -- which is not a certainty, given the chronic disregard for legal deadlines in Iraqi politics -- the -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Advertisement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- country will have spent more than nine months under a caretaker government without a functioning legislature. Many of Iraq's most critical needs, including basic services and investment, have remained unaddressed throughout the impasse. Maliki, 60, a Shiite first elected as a compromise prime minister in 2006, appealed for unity. Reading from written remarks, he urged the political leaders with him "to overcome the disputes from the past, to put them behind us and to open a new page of cooperation in building the country." He said that the improvement in security was his greatest accomplishment in office, and he emphasized the need to support the security forces "in their difficult mission" against an untamed insurgency. He did not mention the United States or its role assisting those forces. At the same time, al-Maliki appeared mindful of growing public frustration over the failure to improve basic services like electricity. "We want an active and qualified government to provide services to our people that we delayed for a long time," he said. Still uncertain is the role of Allawi, whose coalition, Iraqiya, narrowly beat Maliki's, winning 91 seats compared with 89. Under an agreement brokered by the Obama administration, Allawi was supposed to take over a committee on national security and other strategic issues whose authority remains ill defined. On the night parliament met two weeks ago, Allawi led a walkout of some of Iraqiya's members, and then left the country, denouncing the agreement as stillborn. He returned to Iraq on Wednesday, but continues to complain about the agreement, blaming Iran for blocking what he considers his rightful chance to be prime minister. http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_16712795?source=rss

Incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki cemented his grip on power Thursday, bringing an end to nearly nine months of political deadlock after he was asked to form the next government. He now faces the daunting task of bringing together Iraq's Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish factions in a government that can overcome enduring tensions as the country struggles to develop its economy and prevent a resurgence of violence as the last American troops are due to leave by the end of next year. The long-awaited request from President Jalal Talabani sets in motion a 30-day timeline during which al-Maliki must pick his Cabinet. Al-Maliki, a steely politician known more for his ability to alienate than unify, said he was aware of the challenges ahead. "I call upon the great Iraqi people from all sects, religions and ethnicities and I call upon my brothers the politicians to work to overcome all differences," the prime minister designate said during the ceremony at the president's palace. The new government is expected to include all the major factions, including the Kurds, Shiite political parties aligned with Iran and a Sunni-backed bloc that believes it should have been the one leading the next government. In many ways it is likely to be similar to the previous government. The presidency again will be held by the Kurds, the parliament speaker by the Sunnis and the prime minister's office went to the country's dominant sect, the Shiites. The breakdown is a reflection of the sectarian interests that still divide this country, seven years after the US-led invasion. Al-Maliki will have to find other substantial roles for all of those factions or risk having them leave his government, a destabilizing blow for a country struggling to overcome years of violence and economic sanctions. The president's request Thursday was largely a formality following Talabani's re-election on November 11. Talabani, a Kurd, then had 15 days in which to formally extend the offer and start the 30-day clock. The announcement underscores what has been a stunning comeback for al-Maliki, whose State of Law coalition came in a close second in the March 7 election to the Sunni-backed bloc led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi. But neither bloc gained the 163-seat majority necessary to govern, leading to an intensive period of political jockeying. Al-Maliki, 60, then mended rifts with his hard-line Shiite rivals to consolidate his power base. A key question will be who gets to control the security ministries - interior and defense. Haider al-Abadi, a Shiite lawmaker and an al-Maliki ally, said those posts were expected to go to independent politicians not affiliated with any of the main political blocs. Such a move would avoid any risk of using the powerful ministries to settle feuds. The Kurds, meanwhile are pushing to hold onto the foreign ministry, while Allawi's Sunni-backed Iraqiya list has demanded the oil ministry. Finding a role for Iraqiya is an important challenge. Sunni discontent with the Shiite domination that arose from the American overthrow of Saddam Hussein was a key reason for the bloody insurgency that just a few years ago resulted in hundreds of people dead each day. Violence has sharply declined but attacks continue. A bomb went off in a pet store Thursday in the northern city of Tal Afar, killing at least three people and wounding 16, police and hospital officials said. Allawi, who did not attend the meeting, was expected to be named the head of a council that would have ambiguous powers over major government decisions, according to a power-sharing deal that paved the way for al-Maliki to keep his job. The post was pushed by the US Embassy as a way to include Allawi, and address one of Iraqiya's demands that there be a check on what they describe as al-Maliki's increasingly autocratic and insular government. But already al-Maliki and Allawi supporters have voiced conflicting opinions over just how much power the council will have. "The battle hasn't ended," said Iraqiya lawmaker, Alaa Makki. Al-Maliki will also have to weigh what role to give to followers of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose support proved vital in his bid to stay in office. The Sadrists' anti-American stance, ties to Iran and their disturbing history as one of the major players in the country's sectarian violence will make any Cabinet appointments a sensitive issue. But they are expected to demand a reward. "We have about 40 parliament seats which means we have great electoral rights," said Hakim al-Zamili, a high-ranking member of the Sadrist delegation. U.S. Ambassador to Iraq James F. Jeffrey acknowledged al-Maliki has a tough job ahead of him but was optimistic democracy would prevail. "He's in a strong position," Jeffrey said in an interview with The Associated Press. "But it isn't over until it's over, and it's essentially 325 members of the parliament that have the final say." http://www.3news.co.nz/Battle-over-Iraq-PM-must-form-new-government/tabid/417/articleID/188137/Default.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+co%2FMvia+%283News+-+International+News%29

Iraq has run out of money to pay for widows’ benefits, farm crops and other programs for the poor, the parliament leader told legislators, who have collected nearly $180,000 so far this year in one of the world’s most oil-rich nations. In only their fourth session since being elected in March, members of Iraq’s parliament demanded yesterday to know what happened to the estimated $1 billion allocated for welfare funding by the Finance Ministry for 2010. “We should ask the government where these allocations for widows’ aid have gone,” demanded Sadrist legislator Maha Adouri of Baghdad, one of the women who make up a quarter of the legislature’s 325 members. “There are thousands of widows who did not receive financial aid for months.” Another legislator said farmers have not been paid for wheat and other crops they supplied the government. The cause of the shortfall was unclear, but officials have worried that the deadlock over forming a new government since March’s inconclusive election ultimately would lead to funding shortages. Whatever the cause, the welfare cutoff has been felt among Iraqis. “We are sick people and others are old, and not getting our welfare puts us in a financial crisis,” said Fatima Hassan, 54, a widow who lives with her four children in Baghdad’s Sadr City slum. “How can we pay for our daily needs and for our medicine, or to cover the needs of my children? Where are the revenues of our right in our oil?” said Hassan, who stopped receiving government payments more than four months ago. Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi promised that parliament would push the Iraqi government for answers on where the money went. But he said new funding for the nation’s social care programs will have to come out of the 2011 budget, which he said would be sent to parliament within days. He said the Finance Ministry recently alerted parliament of the cash drain. A Finance Ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media put the 2010 welfare budget total at about $1 billion. He would not say what caused the shortfall. “We will ask the government about this — if there is any carelessness or delaying these payments,” said al-Nujaifi, a Sunni member of the Iraqiya political alliance. Iraq sits on top of some of the world’s largest oil reserves, although production has failed to grow significantly since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and subsequent reluctance by private investors to mine the petroleum fields. There are about 143.1 billion barrels of oil reserves in Iraq, valued at over $11 trillion, based on the $81.51 per-barrel price as of Friday. The legislators’ eagerness to take up an issue dear to their constituents may have been aimed in part to reverse public scorn for their own lavish paychecks. Even though parliament has hardly met over the past eight months, legislators have continued to pull in salaries and allowances that reach $22,500 a month — as well as a one-time $90,000 stipend and perks like free nights in Baghdad’s finest hotel. “They kept our millions in their pockets,” said Mizher Abdul Majeed, 49, a farmer in the northern town of Mosul whose bank refuses to cash the Iraqi Trade Ministry-issued checks that pay for his wheat. “How can we prepare for the coming planting season?” The four-hour session was otherwise largely taken up by procedural issues since lawmakers still can’t take up the most politically meaty issue before them — approving a new government. Factions have already started haggling over positions in backroom talks, even though President Jalal Talabani has not yet formally asked Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to begin selecting ministry leaders — a step that Ali al-Dabbagh, a spokesman for the government, said would likely come in several days. Once the official request comes from Talabani, al-Maliki has 30 days to assemble his Cabinet. So the delay gives al-Maliki, a Shiite who nearly lost his job after his alliance fell short in the March vote, more time to decide how to divvy up the posts among his competing partners. http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2010/nov/22/where-is-welfare-money-iraqis-demand-legislators-w-ar-476253/

Head of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines Yahya Al-Ishaq said Iran regards Iraq as one of the major investment locations in the Middle East region, the local satellite Press TV reported on Monday. Iraq's market and economic relations with Iran is a great opportunity for Tehran, and any failure to observe this opportunity would cause some loss to the country, Al-Ishaq told reporters on Sunday. Meanwhile, Al-Ishaq called on the Iranian government to prepare the ground for further presence of Iranian banks in neighboring Iraq, which involves efforts in such areas as banking, insurance and letter of credit, according to Press TV. He said Iran enjoys good infrastructures, including technology and expertise, making it possible for the country to have a permanent presence in the region's markets, the report said. "Currently 750 projects are underway in Iraq by Iranian contractors," the report quoted him as saying. According to local media, in August Iraq's Central Bank approved applications by two Iranian banks, Parsian and Karafarin, to operate in the country and open branches in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/7207190.html

BAGHDAD, Nov 21 (KUNA) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani told outgoing Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki Sunday that the decree of his reassignement would be issued soon. The decree to reassign Al-Maliki will be issued "in near future and in an official form," a statement by the Presidency quoted Talabani as telling Al-Maliki in a meeting. Al-Maliki said the Iraqis have overcome a difficult phase and would continue their achievements. http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2125957&Language=en

Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. has contributed an op-ed for the Times in which he writes, “we are not disengaging from Iraq — rather, the nature of our engagement is changing from a military to a civilian lead.” He continues: While the day will come when Iraq’s vast natural wealth can fully finance its security and investment needs, and when its civilian institutions no longer require such intensive support, it has not yet arrived. Iraq has increased its own spending in these areas, and with sustained American engagement, it will emerge from generations of trauma to become a stable and self-reliant nation. That is why, even at this difficult economic time, we are asking Congress to fulfill our budget requests to support America’s continued engagement, including our broader diplomatic presence, a modernization plan for the Iraqi security forces and financing for a police development program. The drawdown of American troops will save $15 billion in the coming fiscal year — we seek to direct less than one-third of that amount to provide needed assistance to Iraq’s security forces and to our State Department’s civilian-led efforts. http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/biden-what-we-must-do-for-iraq-now/?partner=rss&emc=rss

* Widows, farmers, lower class not being paid for more than four months BAGHDAD: Iraq has run out of money to pay for widows’ benefits, farm crops and other programmes for the poor, the parliament leader on Sunday told lawmakers who have collected nearly $180,000 so far this year in one of the world’s most oil-rich nations. In only their fourth session since being elected in March, members of Iraq’s parliament demanded to know what happened to the estimated $1 billion allocated for welfare funding by the finance ministry for 2010. “We should ask the government where these allocations for widows’ aid have gone,” demanded Sadrist lawmaker Maha Adouri of Baghdad, one of the women who make up a quarter of the legislature’s 325 members. “There are thousands of widows who did not receive financial aid for months.” Another legislator said farmers have not been paid for wheat and other crops they supplied the government for at least five months. The cause of the shortfall was clear, but officials have worried that the deadlock over forming a new government since March’s inconclusive election ultimately would lead to funding shortages. Whatever the cause, the welfare cutoff has been felt among Iraqis. “We are sick people and others are old, and not getting our welfare puts us in a financial crisis,” said Fatima Hassan, a widow, who lives with her four children in Baghdad’s Sadr City slum. “How can we pay for our daily needs and for our medicine, or to cover the needs of my children? Where are the revenues of our right in our oil?” said Hassan, who stopped receiving government payments more than four months ago. Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi promised that parliament would push the Iraqi government for answers on where the money went. But he said new funding for the nation’s social care programs will have to come out of the 2011 budget, which he said would be sent to parliament within few days. He said the finance ministry recently alerted parliament of the cash drain. ap http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C11%5C22%5Cstory_22-11-2010_pg7_37

The Iraqi parliament meets on Sunday to begin in earnest the job its members were elected to do in March. MPs finally ended an eight-month period of deadlock the week before last, when they chose a speaker and reappointed Jalal Talabani as president. That cleared the way for caretaker Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to form a new government. But progress was interrupted by the Muslim holiday of Eid, which ended on Saturday. Sunday's session will see the start of another round of horse-trading over ministerial portfolios. One of parliament's first jobs will be to define the role of the new government body known provisionally as the National Council for Strategic Policies. This will be led by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who was outmanoeuvred by Mr Maliki for the top job, despite winning more seats in March's election. 'Young and fragile' It has been surprisingly quiet in Baghdad these past few days. Is it the political breakthrough that has caused this sudden outbreak of peacefulness? Many will be hoping so, and that the spirit of accord, still so young and fragile, will survive the challenges and tensions that will undoubtedly surface as the business of politics resumes. Since the poll on 7 March, Iraq set a new world record for the longest period between an election and a government being formed. And they're still not quite there. Once Mr Talabani officially asks Mr Maliki to form an administration, he will have 30 days to do so. He will face a delicate task of dividing up ministerial portfolios between the various parties and factions, Shias, Sunnis and Kurds. The consolation prize for Mr Allawi and his mainly Sunni coalition is the leadership of the new council, but there are likely to be tensions over how much power it will wield. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11805073

Politics 11/21/2010 10:03:00 AM Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (With photos) BAGDAD, Nov 21 (KUNA) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani ended his Eid retreat and is gearing up to formally assign Nouri Al-Maliki to form the new Iraqi cabinet for Talabani's second run at the helm of government, with many expecting this development within the week. "Talabani would officially assign Al-Maliki this task within two days, to give him enough time to form the new cabinet within the constitutionally designated one-month period, starting from date of his appointment," according to the National Alliance's leader Abbas Al-Bayati. He told KUNA he was "sure" Al-Maliki would succeed. For his part, Second Deputy Speaker Arif Tayfur told reporters the president would assign Al-Maliki this task sometime this week. Alliance member Jaafar Al-Mousawi meanwhile told KUNA this is no easy task; all political blocs have a duty to help the process. Upon re-election, Talabani told parliament forming a cabinet under Al-Maliki was the only means to stem sedition, and stressed stability of Iraq was directly connected to a true national reconciliation. Al-Maliki has a tough course ahead. Some 60 MPs presided by Ayad Allawi had boycotted his election, which shows there are still differences related to the implementation of the agreed power sharing. Ahead of his return to Bagdad, Talabani met the US Ambassador to Iraq James Jeffrey in Irbil. According to a Presidential Statement issued there, "Talabani stressed it was imperative to form a national unity government, since this is the only means to end all crises." The statement added deliberations on cabinet formation would take place "in the coming days." The statement pointed out that Iraqi parties now have to agree to distribution of ministerial portfolios within a cabinet able to live up to the needs of the Iraqi people and to restore security and basic services. Several members of the National Alliance indicated that the president requested several nominations for each portfolio for him to choose from. They explained the Defense and Interior portfolios would go to independent candidates. An informed source at the Iraqi Presidency told KUNA Talabani finished drafting the assignment decree, which is likely to be read before parliament "today". National Alliance leader Ali Al-Adeeb told KUNA agreement of all political blocs is required for each and every portfolio. Sensitive portfolios are to be considered in two categories, he added. Meanwhile, Ayad Allawi's List said they would take part in the cabinet if the power sharing agreements are honored. List Advisor Hani Ashour pointed out there are "understandings" regarding higher policy council law, concerning accountability and justice, and the agreements within the Barzani initiative's framework. The scene is presently tense over recent remarks by Talabani terming the Iraqi List "a losing horse." List Spokesman Haydar Al-Mulla expressed dissatisfaction with the remarks, and urged the president to seriously strive to forge better relations with states in the region and beyond. As the presidential remarks also involved reference to Turkey, the Spokesman expressed hope the neighbor state would take them as "expression of personal opinion" and maintain its "balanced" attitude to Iraq and its people. (end) mhg.wsa KUNA 211003 Nov 10NNNN http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2125818&Language=en

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US Vice President Joseph Biden on Sunday called for continued US engagement in Iraq, arguing that the country still faced big challenges on the road to security and prosperity. "The United States must also continue to do its part to reinforce Iraq?s progress," Biden wrote in an op-ed piece in The New York Times. "That is why we are not disengaging from Iraq -- rather, the nature of our engagement is changing from a military to a civilian lead." A security accord requires all US troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2011, but officials in both countries have suggested a smaller US mission will probably stay on after next year to provide air power and other military assistance. About 50,000 US troops are currently in Iraq under a new "advise and assist" mission with Iraqi forces taking the lead. But Biden said that Iraq?s security forces were not yet ready to operate fully on their own. "That is why, even at this difficult economic time, we are asking Congress to fulfill our budget requests to support America?s continued engagement, including our broader diplomatic presence, a modernization plan for the Iraqi security forces and financing for a police development program," the vice president wrote. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101121/pl_afp/usiraqdiplomacyaid

Iraq parliament meets, govt formation resumes (AFP) 21 November 2010 BAGHDAD — Iraq’s lawmakers will on Sunday get back to the task of forming a new government after talks following a landmark power-sharing deal were interrupted by the Muslim holiday of Eid. Newly re-elected President Jalal Talabani is expected to officially name incumbent premier Nuri al-Maliki as prime minister-designate, giving him 30 days to form a cabinet and finally bring to an end months of impasse following inconclusive elections in March. Sunday’s scheduled session of parliament, due to open at 11:00 am (0800 GMT), was to focus on the formation of the Council of Representatives’ committees and the chamber’s regulations, a parliamentary official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. It comes after a power-sharing pact was agreed earlier this month and lauded by international leaders including US President Barack Obama, though the agreement has looked fragile ever since. The deal called for Maliki and Talabani to keep their jobs and for a Sunni Arab to selected speaker of parliament. It also established a new statutory body to oversee security as a sop to Iyad Allawi, who had held out for months to regain the post of premier after his Iraqiya bloc narrowly won the most seats in the March 7 poll. The support of Iraqiya is widely seen as vital to preventing a resurgence of inter-confessional violence. The Sunni Arab minority that dominated Saddam Hussein’s regime was the bedrock of the anti-US insurgency after the 2003 invasion. In a sign of the tenuousness of the accord, around 60 Iraqiya MPs walked out of a session of parliament on November 11, the day after the deal was signed, protesting that it was not being honoured. The bloc’s MPs had wanted three of its senior members, barred before the election for their alleged ties to Saddam Hussein’s banned Baath party, to be reinstated immediately. Two days later, however, Iraq’s lawmakers appeared to have salvaged the deal after leaders from the country’s three main parties met and agreed to reconcile and address the MPs’ protests. http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Hot+Topics/Iraq

We post the articles Steve we dont write them....All is GOOD! GOD BLESS!

Washington - In the first interview of his post-presidency, George W Bush said he was angered when US-led coalition forces failed to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but stood by the decision to invade the country to get rid of Saddam Hussein. Bush appeared on television Monday night on the eve of the publication of his memoir, Decision Points, and told NBC's Matt Lauer in a taped interview that it's 'a very hypothetical question' to ask whether he would have, knowing what he now does, proceeded with the invasion. 'I will say definitely the world is better off without Saddam Hussein in power, as are 25 million people who now have a chance to live in freedom,' Bush said. He added that as president one doesn't have the 'luxury' of looking back in time. Decision Points, due in US bookstores Tuesday, reflects on his life and eight years in the White House, covering topics ranging from stopping drinking, his emotional reaction to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Iraq, and the controversial policy to employ harsh interrogation techniques on terrorist suspects. Bush has stayed in the shadows since he left in White House in January 2009, unpopular in the United States and abroad. He has made some appearances at business conventions and teamed up with Bill Clinton to raise money for Haiti following the January earthquake. The interview was the first of several to kick off the launch of the book. He also plans a book tour to promote the memoir. In the book, Bush argues that he believed harsh techniques were required to coerce suspected terrorists into divulging information about potential attacks. He recalls telling the CIA 'damn right' when his authorization was sought to waterboard Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the admitted mastermind of the September 11 attacks. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/usa/news/article_1597525.php/Bush-defends-Iraq-invasion-in-first-interview-since-presidency

WASHINGTON (AFP) – A top US military officer said Monday that Iran's influence has waned in neighboring Iraq, where prolonged negotiations have struggled to decide on a new government. "Probably in the last couple months, in this period of government formation, I think that we think that the Iranian influence has diminished somewhat," said Lieutenant General Robert Cone, the deputy commander of US operations in Iraq. Cone gave a nuanced take on the role of Iran, which is a sworn foe of the United States but also strongly opposed Saddam Hussein's regime. "We see all sorts of Iranian influence -- some of it positive, in fact," Cone told reporters in Washington by video-link. "We believe some of it (is) negative, although it's very difficult to attribute that to the Iranian government," he said, explaining that weapons heading across the border could come from non-government players. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a member of Iraq's Shiite majority that was persecuted under Saddam, last month visited Iran where he appealed to the Shiite clerical regime to help in his country's reconstruction. Maliki's rival Iyad Allawi, whose alliance is mainly Sunni backed, has accused Iran of meddling in government formation talks and looked to support from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states. Iraq has been without a government since March 7 legislative elections, which were the second since the US-led invasion in 2003. Allawi's alliance finished slightly ahead of Maliki's bloc, but neither came close to a parliamentary majority. President Barack Obama, an early opponent of the Iraq war, in August declared an end to combat operations but has left nearly 50,000 troops on the ground in an "advise and assist" role. Cone stood by Obama's timeline to withdraw the remaining troops by the end of 2011 but stressed that an unspecified number of forces would remain to guard US interests including the embassy. "We will always have a requirement to provide some level of security for Americans that are in this country for the foreseeable future," Cone said. But Cone said that the US image was at stake in meeting the timeline. "I think that's very important in building credibility in this part of the world: the fact that we said we'd be at 50,000 and the fact that, barring a political change we will be at zero on January 1, 2012," Cone said. Members of the Republican Party, which won a sweeping victory in last week's congressional elections, have criticized Obama on Iraq but have mostly stopped short of calling for an extension of the US troop mission. However, Republicans are pressing Obama to end a separate timeline of starting to withdraw combat forces from Afghanistan in mid-2011, subject to conditions on the ground. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101108/pl_afp/iraqpoliticsusiranmilitary