SOFA critic on VOI: Weak Iraqi negotiators
It was well known that Maliki changed his position from SOFA even before publicly announced his rejection at the Al-Lam tribal Conference. The Green Zone Radio “Voice of Iraq” reflected Maliki and [the supreme clerics] irritation mood.
Reported by the Sadrists website Nahrainnet, VOI directly criticized the Iraqi negotiators saying that although the draft document is not finished yet, their reactions and rush to sign the agreement raises suspicions.
The Radio counted the weakness of the negotiators saying:
- The Iraqi negotiator has a little experience in the International negotiations international and especially in such topic. A single gap means Iraq’s sovereignty, while the American side such as the ambassador in charge of the Iraqi files Satterfield and ambassador Ryan Crocker and others based their negotiations on long experience, and a remarkable capacity to use words, synonyms, and using all political and diplomatic means in order to be able to make every paragraph of the draft agreement, full with different explanations and interpretations.
- Among the members of the Iraqi negotiating team some still have friendship and cooperation with the U.S. side and that prevented them from responding and stand against their claims with evidence and proofs.
- Among the negotiators on the Iraqi side, some sincerely believe that the United States is friendly to the Iraqis, and tried to assist the American side. They also believe that the long U.S. forces presence in Iraq, provides more security and prevent security vacuum.
Later the article shows a good knowledge in the draft, criticizing some 12 points in the agreement such as the use of the term “the American side obliged” is very shadowy and what about the future of the American military bases after the withdrawal and who is going to take over the intelligence issue after he withdraw since it is still at the hands of the Americans till now.
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