August 30, 2010
Sadrist: Biden’s visit to exclude blocs, will delay government formation
BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: The visit of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to Iraq aims at imposing foreign agendas by encouraging certain blocs to exclude others from the ongoing process to form the new Iraqi government, a leading Sadrist figure Moshriq Naji said on Monday.
It is expected that Biden will visit Iraq soon to accelerate the process of forming Iraq’s new government.
“Biden’s projects are unsuccessful,” Naji said in a statement as received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
He explained that there had been hope that the Iraqi government would be formed soon, but Biden’s visit will delay the process.
Sadrist: Biden’s visit to exclude blocs, will delay government formation
BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: The visit of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to Iraq aims at imposing foreign agendas by encouraging certain blocs to exclude others from the ongoing process to form the new Iraqi government, a leading Sadrist figure Moshriq Naji said on Monday.
It is expected that Biden will visit Iraq soon to accelerate the process of forming Iraq’s new government.
“Biden’s projects are unsuccessful,” Naji said in a statement as received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
He explained that there had been hope that the Iraqi government would be formed soon, but Biden’s visit will delay the process.
One initial plan was to divide Iraq because of sectarianism but, Biden has since denied that he wanted to divide Iraq and that he idea was no longer on the table.
In November 2006, Biden and Leslie Gelb, President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, released a comprehensive strategy to end sectarian violence in Iraq. Rather than continuing the present approach or withdrawing, the plan calls for federalizing Iraq with separate regions for Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis.[52] The key points include:
Giving Iraq's major groups a measure of autonomy in their own regions. A central government would be left in charge of interests such as defending the borders and distributing oil revenues.
Guaranteeing Sunnis — who have no oil rights — a proportionate share of oil revenue and reintegrating those who have not fought against Coalition forces.
Increase, not end, reconstruction assistance but insist that Arab Gulf states fund it and tie it to the creation of a jobs program and to the protection of minority rights.
Initiate a diplomatic offensive to enlist the support of the major powers and neighboring countries for a political settlement in Iraq and create an Oversight Contact Group to enforce regional commitments.
Begin the phased redeployment of U.S. forces in 2007 and withdraw most of them by 2008, leaving a small follow-on force for security and policing actions.
Begin the phased redeployment of U.S. forces in 2007 and withdraw most of them by 2008, leaving a small follow-on force for security and policing actions.
The plan, named The Biden-Brownback Resolution, passed the Senate 75-23 in a nonbinding vote on September 25, 2007, including 26 Republican votes. Iraq’s political leadership united in denouncing the resolution, while the Embassy of the United States in Baghdad issued a statement distancing itself.[52]
