bobdina
07-26-2009, 10:00 PM
Iraqi PM says detaining soldiers was wrong move
The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Jul 26, 2009 17:38:40 EDT
WASHINGTON — The prime minister of Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki, says an Iraqi officer was wrong to order American soldiers detained after they killed three Iraqis while going after insurgents.
In an interview published Sunday in The Washington Post, al-Maliki said the Iraqi officer was “out of line” and “did not understand the agreement” that governs the U.S. military since the withdrawal last month of U.S. combat forces from Iraqi cities.
Al-Maliki said he called Baghdad and “made clear that they understand that this demand of handing over the people who killed the Iraqis is wrong.”
Under the agreement, U.S. forces pulled back to their bases outside urban areas, except in circumstances detailed in the pact.
The prime minister told The Post the pact “clearly states that American forces have the right to defend themselves, and that’s what they did.”
In the incident Tuesday, two attackers and a bystander were killed when an American convoy on its way to a police station to participate in a joint exercise came under attack in the Abu Ghraib area west of Baghdad.
Many Iraqis think that the withdrawal agreement means U.S. troops are prohibited from any military operation.
However, al-Maliki said, if Americans “are attacked by any group, according to the agreement, they can return fire, they can defend themselves.”
Lt. Col. Philip Smith, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, said in an e-mail to The Associated Press there was a discussion between the senior Iraqi Security Forces officer and Coalition Forces commander at the scene where the patrol was attacked.
“They worked it out and the patrol continued. Again, the U.S. and ISF leaders on the scene determined it was a case of self-defense, resolved the issue, and the patrol continued mission,” Smith said.
Al-Maliki is wrapping up a weeklong U.S. visit. In Washington he met with President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and senior lawmakers
The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Jul 26, 2009 17:38:40 EDT
WASHINGTON — The prime minister of Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki, says an Iraqi officer was wrong to order American soldiers detained after they killed three Iraqis while going after insurgents.
In an interview published Sunday in The Washington Post, al-Maliki said the Iraqi officer was “out of line” and “did not understand the agreement” that governs the U.S. military since the withdrawal last month of U.S. combat forces from Iraqi cities.
Al-Maliki said he called Baghdad and “made clear that they understand that this demand of handing over the people who killed the Iraqis is wrong.”
Under the agreement, U.S. forces pulled back to their bases outside urban areas, except in circumstances detailed in the pact.
The prime minister told The Post the pact “clearly states that American forces have the right to defend themselves, and that’s what they did.”
In the incident Tuesday, two attackers and a bystander were killed when an American convoy on its way to a police station to participate in a joint exercise came under attack in the Abu Ghraib area west of Baghdad.
Many Iraqis think that the withdrawal agreement means U.S. troops are prohibited from any military operation.
However, al-Maliki said, if Americans “are attacked by any group, according to the agreement, they can return fire, they can defend themselves.”
Lt. Col. Philip Smith, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, said in an e-mail to The Associated Press there was a discussion between the senior Iraqi Security Forces officer and Coalition Forces commander at the scene where the patrol was attacked.
“They worked it out and the patrol continued. Again, the U.S. and ISF leaders on the scene determined it was a case of self-defense, resolved the issue, and the patrol continued mission,” Smith said.
Al-Maliki is wrapping up a weeklong U.S. visit. In Washington he met with President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and senior lawmakers