Iraq cleric urges new Iraq-US security agreement (Ammar al-Hakim)

[maddezmom]

Iraq cleric urges new Iraq-US security agreement
17 Mar 2007 14:56:58 GMT
Source: Reuters

More NAJAF, Iraq, March 17 (Reuters) - An influential Shi'ite cleric whose arrest last month by U.S. troops sparked protests said on Saturday the powers of the U.S. military in Iraq should be curtailed since they infringed on his nation's sovereignty.

Ammar al-Hakim, son of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, one of Iraq's most powerful Shi'ite leaders, was speaking at a rally in the holy city of Najaf.

"We should have a security agreement that defines the authority of each party. (U.S.-led) forces cannot have outright powers because this affects our sovereignty," he declared.

Hakim also called for the release of all prisoners detained in Iraq who have no evidence against them. Freeing prisoners from U.S.-run jails has long been demanded by minority Sunni Arabs, who make up the backbone of the insurgency fighting the Shi'ite-led government and U.S. forces.

"We ask for the speedy release of all prisoners that do not have evidence against them. Keeping thousands in detention is unacceptable," he told thousands of supporters.

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IBO752732.htm

[YankeyMCC]

1. There's a major flaw in what this man is suggesting

See if there is a clear cut agreement defining authority that means the administration would have to be held accountable and responsible for events in Iraq.

This administration and their supporters are severely allergic to responsibility and accountability.

[Kagemusha]

2. He knows.

He's proposing it to drive a needle into the 'coalition forces', not because it is something that they will enjoy, but because it is something that they will not. Of course it'll never happen, but merely proposing it gets him a small measure of revenge.