Sadr Movement Dismisses Logic behind Extended US Mission in Iraq

A spokesman of the Sadr Movement underlined the Sadrists’ strong opposition to an extension of the US military presence in Iraq, reiterating that there is no reason and justification for an extended US mission in the country.
“The Sadr Movement is completely against an extension of Washington-Baghdad security deal under any kind of condition and we believe that extension of the agreement will pave the ground for the continued occupation of Iraq forever or for several years,” Salah al-Abidi told FNA on Sunday.

He pointed to a meeting held among Iraq’s political leaders in President Jalal Talabani’s home yesterday, and stated, “A decision is due to be taken about the future of these forces by the next two weeks, but the Sadr Movement as one of the influential movements in the country expresses its opposition to an extension of the deal right from now.”

“There is no reason for extending the agreement and the country doesn’t need the presence of these forces as it didn’t in the last few years,” al-Abidi stated.

The US military agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington at the end of November 2008 stipulates the withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq by December 31, 2011 as a deadline.

Earlier, Iraqi Government Spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh categorically denied speculations that Baghdad is going to strike a deal with Washington to extend the presence of the US troops in Iraq beyond the 2011 deadline.

“The report is a sheer lie since no action has been taken in this regard and the government of Iraq hasn’t singed such a deal with the US,” Dabbagh told FNA in Baghdad.

The US has pressed senior Iraqi officials to revise their decision on the US pullout and demand Washington to keep its troops in the country beyond their scheduled departure in the yearend.

Iraqi state officials as well as religious and political figures have all condemned the US attempts for extending the mission of its troops in the country.