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| Iraqi Leader Calls on U.S. to Help Fight Terrorist Threat | Iraqi Leader Calls on U.S. to Help Fight Terrorist Threat |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| WASHINGTON — Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki said on Thursday that Iraq once again faces a terrorist threat and that additional American weapons and intelligence are needed to roll it back. | WASHINGTON — Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki said on Thursday that Iraq once again faces a terrorist threat and that additional American weapons and intelligence are needed to roll it back. |
| “We shed blood together,” Mr. Maliki said, referring to the nearly nine-year Iraq war. “We came to Washington to consolidate the partnership.” | “We shed blood together,” Mr. Maliki said, referring to the nearly nine-year Iraq war. “We came to Washington to consolidate the partnership.” |
| “We want an international war, a global war against terror,” he added. | “We want an international war, a global war against terror,” he added. |
| In an animated speech at the United States Institute for Peace, the prime minister attributed the rise of Al Qaeda in Iraq to chaos in neighboring Syria and the collapse of state structures as a result of the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011. | In an animated speech at the United States Institute for Peace, the prime minister attributed the rise of Al Qaeda in Iraq to chaos in neighboring Syria and the collapse of state structures as a result of the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011. |
| Many critics, including prominent American lawmakers, have said that Mr. Maliki shares much of the blame for the renewed violence, asserting that his failure to share power with the Sunni minority had provided a fertile ground for appeals from Al Qaeda. | Many critics, including prominent American lawmakers, have said that Mr. Maliki shares much of the blame for the renewed violence, asserting that his failure to share power with the Sunni minority had provided a fertile ground for appeals from Al Qaeda. |
| But Mr. Maliki did not acknowledge that political tensions in Iraq or that his own often authoritarian governing style had contributed to the problem. | But Mr. Maliki did not acknowledge that political tensions in Iraq or that his own often authoritarian governing style had contributed to the problem. |
| “There is no problem between Sunnis and Shiites,” he said. “The constitution is ruling in Iraq.” | “There is no problem between Sunnis and Shiites,” he said. “The constitution is ruling in Iraq.” |
| Mr. Maliki asserted that as a young democracy, Iraq was still building its political system. But he insisted that any political problems were “under control” and were being worked out under the constitution. | Mr. Maliki asserted that as a young democracy, Iraq was still building its political system. But he insisted that any political problems were “under control” and were being worked out under the constitution. |
| During a question-and-answer session after his speech, the prime minister said he would seek a third term if the public wanted him to stay on the job. | During a question-and-answer session after his speech, the prime minister said he would seek a third term if the public wanted him to stay on the job. |
| “This is something that is up to the Iraqi people,” he said. “It is a very, very difficult job.” | “This is something that is up to the Iraqi people,” he said. “It is a very, very difficult job.” |
| Among many Iraq analysts, it is a foregone conclusion that Mr. Maliki is seeking to consolidate power and continue as prime minister. In fact, some saw his visit to Washington as an attempt to secure American political support before he campaigns. | Among many Iraq analysts, it is a foregone conclusion that Mr. Maliki is seeking to consolidate power and continue as prime minister. In fact, some saw his visit to Washington as an attempt to secure American political support before he campaigns. |
| Mr. Maliki was last in Washington in December 2011. During a joint press conference then, President Obama praised Mr. Maliki for leading Iraq’s most inclusive government to date and boasted that violence was at “record lows.” | Mr. Maliki was last in Washington in December 2011. During a joint press conference then, President Obama praised Mr. Maliki for leading Iraq’s most inclusive government to date and boasted that violence was at “record lows.” |
| The last of the troops from the United States left Iraq that month, and the White House and the Maliki government were eager to portray Iraq as a nation that was largely capable of safeguarding itself. | The last of the troops from the United States left Iraq that month, and the White House and the Maliki government were eager to portray Iraq as a nation that was largely capable of safeguarding itself. |
| Since then, security has deteriorated. Al Qaeda in Iraq has mounted a comeback, bombings have dramatically increased and political tensions within Iraq between Mr. Maliki’s Shia-dominated government and Sunni politicians have grown. | Since then, security has deteriorated. Al Qaeda in Iraq has mounted a comeback, bombings have dramatically increased and political tensions within Iraq between Mr. Maliki’s Shia-dominated government and Sunni politicians have grown. |
| During a three-day visit here, Mr. Maliki and his large delegation are meeting with lawmakers and senior American officials. He met with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Thursday morning and wasscheduled to meet with Mr. Obama on Friday. | During a three-day visit here, Mr. Maliki and his large delegation are meeting with lawmakers and senior American officials. He met with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Thursday morning and wasscheduled to meet with Mr. Obama on Friday. |
| The United States is weighing Mr. Maliki’s requests for counterterrorism and military aid at a time when a resurgent Al Qaeda is building new camps, training facilities and staging areas in western Iraq, administration officials said. | The United States is weighing Mr. Maliki’s requests for counterterrorism and military aid at a time when a resurgent Al Qaeda is building new camps, training facilities and staging areas in western Iraq, administration officials said. |
| “Some of these Al Qaeda networks that are coming in from Syria and that are based in Iraq now really have heavy weapons,” a senior administration official told reporters in a conference call on Wednesday. “Iraqi helicopter pilots that we have trained have been killed by heavy machine gun weaponry. And so they’re trying to take this threat – take on this threat with equipment that isn’t really geared towards doing it effectively.” | “Some of these Al Qaeda networks that are coming in from Syria and that are based in Iraq now really have heavy weapons,” a senior administration official told reporters in a conference call on Wednesday. “Iraqi helicopter pilots that we have trained have been killed by heavy machine gun weaponry. And so they’re trying to take this threat – take on this threat with equipment that isn’t really geared towards doing it effectively.” |
| American intelligence and counterterrorism officials said they had mapped the locations and origins of these new Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant networks and were sharing that information with the Iraqis. | |
| “As this threat has really accelerated over the last, say, six to eight months, we’ve tried to work even more closely with the Iraqis to develop their sight picture in a better way,” the senior administration official said. | “As this threat has really accelerated over the last, say, six to eight months, we’ve tried to work even more closely with the Iraqis to develop their sight picture in a better way,” the senior administration official said. |
| To help combat the threat, Iraq has requested a range of weapons from the United States, including Apache helicopters. | To help combat the threat, Iraq has requested a range of weapons from the United States, including Apache helicopters. |
| Over the summer, the Obama administration told Congress it planned to sell Iraq a major new air defense system, which would eventually allow the Iraqis to exercise control of their airspace. The system is still months away from being installed. | Over the summer, the Obama administration told Congress it planned to sell Iraq a major new air defense system, which would eventually allow the Iraqis to exercise control of their airspace. The system is still months away from being installed. |
| Mr. Maliki has urged Congress to expedite the sale of many of the weapons, include the helicopters. But in meetings on Capitol Hill this week, influential senators and Mr. Maliki jousted over his failure to adequately incorporate Sunnis and Kurds into Iraq’s government. | Mr. Maliki has urged Congress to expedite the sale of many of the weapons, include the helicopters. But in meetings on Capitol Hill this week, influential senators and Mr. Maliki jousted over his failure to adequately incorporate Sunnis and Kurds into Iraq’s government. |
| An hourlong meeting Wednesday with the two top senators on the Foreign Relations Committee went badly, and some prominent lawmakers emerged from the closed-door session without endorsing the helicopter sale. | An hourlong meeting Wednesday with the two top senators on the Foreign Relations Committee went badly, and some prominent lawmakers emerged from the closed-door session without endorsing the helicopter sale. |
| “It felt like we were talking past each other,” said Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, the senior Republican on the panel. “I did not feel like he seemed to internalize at all the concerns that we had, and was somewhat dismissive.” | “It felt like we were talking past each other,” said Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, the senior Republican on the panel. “I did not feel like he seemed to internalize at all the concerns that we had, and was somewhat dismissive.” |
| Mr. Corker said he was rethinking his previous support for the Apache sale. | Mr. Corker said he was rethinking his previous support for the Apache sale. |
| Senator Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who heads the committee, said he was “extremely disappointed” in the meeting with Mr. Maliki. “I got a sense there was no acknowledgment of any of the challenges facing Iraqi society today.” | |
| Mr. Menendez, who already had reservations about the helicopter sale, said that Wednesday’s meeting “made me even more concerned about such approval.” | Mr. Menendez, who already had reservations about the helicopter sale, said that Wednesday’s meeting “made me even more concerned about such approval.” |
| In addition to their concerns that Mr. Maliki’s government was not sufficiently inclusive, both senators said the prime minister had not assuaged their concerns about Iranian flights of weapons to Syria through Iraqi airspace. | In addition to their concerns that Mr. Maliki’s government was not sufficiently inclusive, both senators said the prime minister had not assuaged their concerns about Iranian flights of weapons to Syria through Iraqi airspace. |