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Version 2 Version 3
Iraqi Premier Says Fight Against ISIS Is Top Priority Iraqi Premier Places Unity Second to Fighting ISIS
(about 11 hours later)
BAGHDAD — The Iraqi prime minister, in an apparent rebuff to his international critics, said Wednesday that finding a political settlement to the differences between the country’s factions was not as important or urgent as fighting extremist Sunni insurgents.BAGHDAD — The Iraqi prime minister, in an apparent rebuff to his international critics, said Wednesday that finding a political settlement to the differences between the country’s factions was not as important or urgent as fighting extremist Sunni insurgents.
But in a conciliatory gesture, the prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, also offered amnesty to anyone who fought with or supported the insurgents.But in a conciliatory gesture, the prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, also offered amnesty to anyone who fought with or supported the insurgents.
In a speech broadcast on Iraqiya, the state television channel, Mr. Maliki also acknowledged the embarrassment a day earlier surrounding the efforts to form a new government, which collapsed after the new Parliament adjourned within half an hour of convening.In a speech broadcast on Iraqiya, the state television channel, Mr. Maliki also acknowledged the embarrassment a day earlier surrounding the efforts to form a new government, which collapsed after the new Parliament adjourned within half an hour of convening.
“It was good to see people united and showing up, despite the weaknesses we saw and did not hope to see,” Mr. Maliki said. Kurdish and Shiite legislators exchanged insults, and the session adjourned for a week. “We hope the next session we will overcome this by cooperating together and being realistic,” he said.“It was good to see people united and showing up, despite the weaknesses we saw and did not hope to see,” Mr. Maliki said. Kurdish and Shiite legislators exchanged insults, and the session adjourned for a week. “We hope the next session we will overcome this by cooperating together and being realistic,” he said.
International supporters of Iraq, including the United States, have criticized Mr. Maliki, a Shiite, for failing to form an inclusive government that brings Sunni Arabs and Kurds onto its side in the fight against the extremists. The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, and a range of Sunni-based allies enjoy wide support in many Sunni areas, and Kurdish leaders have taken advantage of the Iraqi Army’s disarray to consolidate their hold over the autonomous Kurdistan region, and seizing control of the disputed city of Kirkuk. International supporters of Iraq, including the United States, have criticized Mr. Maliki, a Shiite, for failing to form an inclusive government that brings Sunni Arabs and Kurds onto its side in the fight against the extremists. The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and a range of Sunni-based allies enjoy wide support in many Sunni areas, and Kurdish leaders have taken advantage of the Iraqi Army’s disarray to consolidate their hold over the autonomous Kurdistan region and seize control of the disputed city of Kirkuk.
“Politicians in Iraq need to realize that it is no longer business as usual,” the top United Nations representative here, Nickolay Mladenov, said on Tuesday, criticizing the political impasse. And American officials have said that major military support for Iraq would be dependent on a new, inclusive government being formed.“Politicians in Iraq need to realize that it is no longer business as usual,” the top United Nations representative here, Nickolay Mladenov, said on Tuesday, criticizing the political impasse. And American officials have said that major military support for Iraq would be dependent on a new, inclusive government being formed.
However, Mr. Maliki appeared to reject that reasoning. “The battle today is the security battle for the unity of Iraq,” he said. “I don’t believe there is anything more important than mobilizing people to support the security situation. Other things are important, but this is the priority.” Mr. Maliki, however, appeared to reject that reasoning. “The battle today is the security battle for the unity of Iraq,” he said. “I don’t believe there is anything more important than mobilizing people to support the security situation. Other things are important, but this is the priority.”
He said the political process would not be able to proceed without a strong military. “We will move on in the political process,'’ he said, “but we have to focus on the battle, which is on behalf of the people.” He said the political process would not be able to proceed without a strong military. “We will move on in the political process,” he said, “but we have to focus on the battle, which is on behalf of the people.”
Iraq’s Sunni and Kurdish politicians have refused to accept Mr. Maliki as a candidate for a third term, and the majority Shiite coalition was maneuvering to determine his replacement. Both the powerful Shiite marja, or council of ayatollahs, and the American government have shown little enthusiasm for Mr. Maliki to remain in power, although his party won the most votes in the April 30 elections.Iraq’s Sunni and Kurdish politicians have refused to accept Mr. Maliki as a candidate for a third term, and the majority Shiite coalition was maneuvering to determine his replacement. Both the powerful Shiite marja, or council of ayatollahs, and the American government have shown little enthusiasm for Mr. Maliki to remain in power, although his party won the most votes in the April 30 elections.
“The Americans are putting the cart before the horse,” said Haider al-Abadi, a prominent member of Mr. Maliki’s State of Law party. “Things on the ground are much more important. Solving them will help solve the political problem for us, this is life or death.” “The Americans are putting the cart before the horse,” said Haider al-Abadi, a prominent member of Mr. Maliki’s State of Law party. “Things on the ground are much more important. Solving them will help solve the political problem for us — this is life or death.”
He also said the United States government had told Mr. Maliki that it would be happy to work with him if he remained in power.He also said the United States government had told Mr. Maliki that it would be happy to work with him if he remained in power.
“President Obama was upset about leaks that his administration was not happy with Mr. Maliki, that’s the message we’re getting from the Americans,” Mr. Abadi said.“President Obama was upset about leaks that his administration was not happy with Mr. Maliki, that’s the message we’re getting from the Americans,” Mr. Abadi said.
Mr. Maliki’s critics said his speech was another indication of why he needed to be replaced.Mr. Maliki’s critics said his speech was another indication of why he needed to be replaced.
“The political process has to be first, and above all other issues because it is the only way to find a solution to all our problems and defuse the whole crisis,” said Talal al-Zubaie, a Sunni member of Parliament from Anbar Province. “This is one of the prime minister’s attempts to consolidate his power and extend his stay in office.”“The political process has to be first, and above all other issues because it is the only way to find a solution to all our problems and defuse the whole crisis,” said Talal al-Zubaie, a Sunni member of Parliament from Anbar Province. “This is one of the prime minister’s attempts to consolidate his power and extend his stay in office.”
Mr. Maliki’s announcement of an amnesty, while broad-based, was directed particularly at Sunni tribal leaders. Their support against Qaeda militants in 2008 was decisive in defeating them.Mr. Maliki’s announcement of an amnesty, while broad-based, was directed particularly at Sunni tribal leaders. Their support against Qaeda militants in 2008 was decisive in defeating them.
“I’m announcing an amnesty to all tribes and all people involved in this, there are no exceptions, for everyone,” he said. “I’m welcoming them to join other tribes to fight ISIS, this is in their interests, the interests of their tribes and their sons.” However, he said those who had blood on their hands would have to first be forgiven by the families of their victims. “I’m announcing an amnesty to all tribes and all people involved in this, there are no exceptions, for everyone,” he said. “I’m welcoming them to join other tribes to fight ISIS, this is in their interests, the interests of their tribes and their sons.” However, he said that those who had blood on their hands would have to first be forgiven by the families of their victims.
In Washington, Secretary of State John Kerry spoke by telephone to Massoud Barzani, the president of the autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq, and urged the Kurds to help with the process of forming a new Iraqi government.
A Kurdish delegation, including Fuad Hussein, Mr. Barzani’s chief of staff, also met with Mr. Kerry on Wednesday.
Kurdish officials said later that the Kurds were prepared to play a role in forming a new government in Baghdad. But they that stressed that the Kurdish participation was conditional on an arrangement that would grant the Kurds expanded political and economic autonomy.
“If we are not going in the direction of restructuring Iraq radically toward federalism and toward democracy, then we cannot be part of that system,” Mr. Hussein said in an appearance at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Mr. Hussein also said that the Kurds would not accept a government in which Mr. Maliki served a third term as prime minister.
“If I was Nuri al-Maliki, I would go to the Parliament and I would say, ‘I am sorry I could not manage this country.’ So I would leave. But it seems he doesn’t recognize that,” Mr. Hussein said. “So we must wait for another one to be in charge.”
In the southern holy city of Karbala on Wednesday, more than 40 people were killed in clashes between Iraqi security forces and followers of a Shiite cleric, Reuters reported.
The clashes, a clear sign of tensions among Shiites even as Sunni forces threaten the government’s very survival, erupted when the police and soldiers tried to arrest the cleric, Mahmoud al-Sarkhi, late Tuesday, an Interior Ministry intelligence officer and a police witness told Reuters.
Security forces said they went to arrest Mr. Sarkhi, who has fought with American and Iraqi forces in the past, after his supporters blocked roads and manned checkpoints around his neighborhood in the city, which is sacred to Shiites.