US-Iraq security pact 'disgraceful'

Press TV
Monday, June 9, 2008

The signing of the Washington-Baghdad security pact would be 'the most disgraceful' event in Iraq's history, an Iraqi academic says.

The possible signing of the treaty between the two countries would be a shameful act, secretary general of the Center for Strategic Sciences at Baghdad University, Ali al-Baghdadi, told Fars news agency.

The US is seeking long-term changes in the political systems of the Middle Eastern countries, so it is using the security treaty with Iraq as a means of achieving its objectives in the region, he added.

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He stressed the US has been focusing on altering the political systems of the Middle Eastern countries in order to secure the Zionist regime in the region.

Establishment of military bases in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iraq and other regional countries is seen by the US as a precondition for securing the Zionist regime, he added.

Washington has been in negotiations with the Iraqi government over a long-term security treaty as the UN mandate in Iraq is to expire in December.

The US-proposed Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) seeks 50 full-scale military bases throughout Iraq, immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law for its military and other personnel and the right to arrest Iraqi citizens at will.

Iraq's neighboring countries, Iran in particular, have expressed deep concern about the treaty.

The Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is on a visit to Tehran, sought to reassure his Iranian hosts that the pact would do no harm to Iraq's neighbors.

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