Iraq rejects U.S. Army

Baghdad does not want a U.S. troop presence in Iraq after 2011, Iraq's government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh said on Friday (04/08/2011).

"Yesterday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told U.S. Secretary of State Robert Gates about the rejection of the Government of Iraq against the presence of U.S. troops or other foreign troops on Iraqi territory," said Al-Dabbagh.

He said the presence of U.S. troops is causing problems in the country and the Middle East for Iraq. "The U.S. government can not impose his will on Iraq. Army they should no longer be in any country without the consent of the host," said the spokesman.

Gates on Thursday said the U.S. would still put the troops in Iraq after the final withdrawal date, which has been agreed, if the Iraqi government asked for an extension. "We want to put the army after 2011, but we got a lot of commitment," Gates said in a question and answer with the troops at the military complex outside the city of Baghdad.

"So, if my friends here want us to stay, we will set up a plan about it quickly," he said. Complete U.S. military operations in Iraq in the summer of 2009 and withdraw combat units. Most U.S. troops scheduled to leave the country in the summer of 2011. Less than 50,000 U.S. troops still in Iraq, down from the previous number had reached 170,000 troops.

Baghdad tidak menginginkan kehadiran pasukan Amerika Serikat di Irak setelah 2011, kata juru bicara Pemerintah Irak, Ali al-Dabbagh, Jumat (8/4/2011).

"Kemarin, Perdana Menteri Nouri al-Maliki mengatakan kepada Menteri Luar Negeri AS Robert Gates tentang penolakan Pemerintah Irak terhadap keberadaan pasukan AS atau pasukan asing lain di wilayah Irak," kata Al-Dabbagh.   

Ia mengatakan, keberadaan tentara AS menyebabkan masalah di dalam negeri dan Timur Tengah bagi Irak. "Pemerintah AS tidak dapat memaksakan kehendaknya terhadap Irak. Tentara mereka tidak boleh lagi berada di negara mana pun tanpa persetujuan tuan rumah," kata juru bicara itu.   

Gates pada Kamis mengatakan, AS akan tetap menempatkan tentara di Irak setelah tanggal penarikan mundur terakhir, yang telah disepakati, jika pemerintah Irak meminta perpanjangan waktu. "Kami ingin menempatkan tentara setelah 2011, tetapi kami mendapat banyak komitmen," kata Gates dalam tanya jawab dengan tentara di kompleks militer di luar kota Bagdad.   

"Jadi, jika teman-teman di sini menginginkan kami tetap, kami akan mengatur rencana soal itu dengan cepat," katanya.     AS menyelesaikan operasi militer di Irak pada musim panas 2009 dan menarik satuan tempurnya. Sebagian besar tentara AS dijadwalkan meninggalkan negara itu pada musim panas 2011.     Kurang dari 50.000 tentara AS masih di Irak, turun dari jumlah sebelumnya yang pernah mencapai 170.000 tentara.