As the U.S. scales back forces in Iraq, negotiations are underway to determine how long troops will stay. But rumors raise obstacles to reaching agreement.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd, has defended the agreement. "The recent statements you've heard, the recent politicking you heard by different groups has really been very unhelpful," he said. "There has been no agreement yet.
"Secondly, most of the statements are coming from people who are unaware or not involved in the heart of this negotiating procedure. It has really been used for political brinksmanship," Zebari said.[...]
Others warned that some Dawa members were seeking to sabotage a long-term deal.
"There is a lot of misrepresentation. It is deliberate. Some people don't want this on principle. Some people may have ideological problems with this. Now they are showing their true colors," said a senior Iraqi official who did not wish to be identified because it could endanger his position.He warned that even Maliki's backing was not a given. The prime minister is faced with pressure within his party. In the past, officials have described Maliki as flip-flopping on government decisions.
The official described Dawa members as having become overconfident after successful military campaigns this spring in the southern port of Basra, Baghdad's Sadr City and Mosul that relied heavily on U.S. air support to defeat Sunni and Shiite armed groups.
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