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Iraq
urges limits on U.S. operations
As the two governments work out a military agreement, Baghdad
says the country must not be involved in any attacks on its
neighbors.
By Garrett Therolf
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
27/01/09 "Los
Angeles Times" --
-- BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government is eager to reach
agreement to extend the authority of the United States to
conduct combat operations here, a spokesman said Saturday, but
he emphasized that Iraq must not be used as a launch pad for
attacks against neighboring countries.
Government spokesman Ali Dabbagh echoed remarks by U.S. Defense
Secretary Robert M. Gates last week that the agreement would
include no provisions for permanent American bases. The accord
would take effect after the United Nations mandate governing
U.S. operations in the country expires at the end of the year.
Asked whether Iraq would grant the U.S. the power to continue
unilateral offensive operations and maintain its own detention
facilities, he said, "Definitely, because this is one of the
major needs for troops: to support Iraqi security forces in
their fight."
But Dabbagh also said that the troops must "not be used against
[Iraq's] neighbors," which could put the country's security in
jeopardy. "I think this is one of the principles which Iraqis
are working" to spell out in the agreement.
"I think this is a constitutional issue in Iraq, that Iraq will
not be used as a passage to attack any of the neighbors," he
said. The comment appeared to be a reference to Iran, which is
engaged in a war of words with the U.S. over its nuclear
program.
Meanwhile, in the western province of Anbar, there were signs
that a new national flag approved Tuesday by the parliament may
once again be unacceptable to a large section of the country.
The temporary flag, a one-year stopgap until a more permanent
design is selected, will no longer bear the three green stars
representing the "unity, freedom, socialism" motto of Saddam
Hussein's Baath Party. The words "Allahu akbar" (God is great)
will be officially changed from the late leader's handwriting to
an old-style Arabic font. The changes were essential to gain
Kurdistan's willingness to fly it.
But some officials in Anbar, which is predominantly Sunni Arab,
objected.
"I will use the old flag until I receive a formal decision by
the provincial government to bring it down," said Saad Rasheed
Khalifawi, the mayor of Fallouja. "The old flag doesn't
represent a man or regime. It represents the people."
Copyright 2008 Los Angeles Times
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