Iraq still seeking U.S. trainers: PM Maliki

[ClarkUSA]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Iraq will continue talks with Washington on how U.S. trainers can work with Iraqi forces after a complete withdrawal of American troops at the end of the year, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Saturday.

U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Friday that all U.S. troops would leave Iraq as scheduled by the end of this year after the two governments failed to reach an agreement over giving American soldiers legal immunity.

"Now that we have put this behind us, this will let us settle the issue of training," Maliki said. "Iraqis will ask to resume talks over the number of trainers, the duration (of their stay in Iraq) and how those trainers will be used."...Military advisers working at the embassy are covered by diplomatic immunity afforded to the State Department. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Saturday that U.S. commitment to the democratic future of Iraq remains strong despite the decision to go ahead with the withdrawal of American troops as scheduled.

"Even as our troops come home, the United States's commitment to Iraq's future as a secure, stable, democratic nation remains as strong as ever," she said at a news conference in the Tajik capital. "This will end the war..."... Clinton said Washington expected to have a "significant" security training presence at the Baghdad embassy.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/22/us-iraq-usa-maliki-idUSTRE79L1C720111022?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

[Tx4obama]

1. Ah ... well the part below makes sense

SNIP

Iraq will get some military training from a U.S. embassy program and from contractors who are part of a package with the U.S.-made military hardware Baghdad is purchasing, such as F-16 fighter jets and tanks.

Military advisers working at the embassy are covered by diplomatic immunity afforded to the State Department.

SNIP

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There's a loophole for the immunity issue.

[ClarkUSA]

2. Therein lies the rub.

;)

[ClarkUSA]

3. That's a good point. I should add that to the OP. Thanks.

All U.S. trainers will be restricted to the embassy. I just hope the embassy security protocol is very paranoid and the staff are careful. There are a lot of jihadist suicide bombers who probably would love to be the martyr who gets through the gates in the guise of an Iraqi trainee.