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Bush, Maliki explore ways to quell violence in Iraq

Atul Aneja

Both leaders under pressure to change strategy

DUBAI: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Ali Maliki has met U.S. President George Bush in Amman to find ways to contain spiralling violence in Iraq. The meeting took place at a time when both leaders are facing mounting domestic pressure for changing their approach towards tackling the worsening security situation inside Iraq.

Despite growing domestic opinion for the withdrawal of American troops, Mr. Bush reiterated during a press conference that there would be no time-bound pullbacks from Iraq.

He said the troops would remain as long as Mr. Maliki wanted them to stay. He said his country's forces were on a mission "to help liberty prevail in the Middle East [West Asia], starting with Iraq. And that's why this business about graceful exit simply has no realism to it at all." During his interaction with the media, Mr. Bush did not indicate any American interest in opening direct talks with Syria and Iran.

Despite supporting Mr. Maliki, who, Mr. Bush said was the "right guy for Iraq," he did say long-term stability of Iraq would depend on a process of "national reconciliation."

Saudi pressure

Analysts point out that Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan have been pressing the Americans to safeguard Sunni interests in Shia-dominated Iraq. Both Jordan and Saudi Arabia have recently hosted Iraq's Sunni clerical leader, Harith Al Dhari, against whom Mr. Maliki's government has issued an arrest warrant.

Mr. Bush backed Mr. Maliki's assertion that Iraq should remain united. "The Prime Minister made clear that splitting his country into parts... is not what the Iraqi people want and that any partition of Iraq would only lead to an increase in sectarian violence. I agree," Mr. Bush said.

He reiterated that the training of Iraqi forces should be speeded up so that they could assume greater responsibility.

Thirty lawmakers, including five Cabinet Ministers who are loyal to Shia cleric Moqtada Al Sadr have suspended support for Mr. Maliki in Parliament to lodge either protest against his meeting with Mr. Bush. Besides, a classified White House memo questioning Mr. Maliki's capability to quell the violence was leaked to the press on the eve of the Amman meeting.

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