Iraq Wants U.S. Troops, But With No Immunity

Photo: Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki

Iraq Denies Legal Immunity To U.S. Troops After 2011 -- New York Times

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s political leaders announced late Tuesday that they had agreed on the need to keep American military trainers in Iraq next year, but they declared that any remaining troops should not be granted immunity from Iraqi law, a point the United States has said would be a deal breaker.

The statement, issued as the political leaders emerged from a meeting in the presidential compound, sent mixed signals as United States officials and the Iraqi cabinet negotiate whether any troops will remain after the first of the year, when the forces are scheduled to depart. American officials were scrambling on Tuesday night to decipher the announcement.

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More News On U.S. Withdrawal From Iraq

Iraqi leaders want US trainers but reject immunity -- Yahoo News/AP
Iraq's Maliki wins backing for U.S. trainers, but no immunity -- Reuters
'No need' for US troop immunity post-2011: Iraq leaders -- AFP
Iraq wants U.S. troops in 2012 -- Politico
Iraqi Political Leaders Reject Immunity For U.S. Training Troops -- Radio Free Europe
Iraqi political leaders discuss U.S. training mission -- CNN

My Comment: If Iraq was stable, and the security situation quiet .... I can understand this need for no immunity. But Iraq is anything but stable, and the security situation in the country is tenuous at best. This is a deal breaker .... and the U.S. will now (probably) withdraw all military forces by years end.