Odierno working to cultivate security ties between central Iraq, Kurdish north
Thursday, August 20, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
BAGHDAD — The U.S. military is exploring an alliance between Iraq's central government and the autonomous Kurdish Regional Government.
BAGHDAD — The U.S. military is exploring an alliance between Iraq's central government and the autonomous Kurdish Regional Government.
U.S. commander in Iraq Gen. Raymond Odierno has been briefing Iraqi and Kurdish representatives of a joint security plan for the north. Under the plan, Iraqi, Kurdish and U.S. troops would coordinate joint patrols of disputed areas around the oil-rich Kirkuk region.
"Right now, this proposal is in the discussion phase," an official said.
The official said the U.S. proposal represented a confidence-building measure that could pave the way for a resolution in areas disputed between Iraq's central government and the Kurdish Regional Government. KRG has claimed areas around Kirkuk where Kurds were expelled during the regime of the late President Saddam Hussein.
Some of the disputed areas have been infiltrated by Al Qaida and other insurgents. Officials said Al Qaida has won Sunni support to attack Kurdish and Shi'ite interests in northern provinces. The proposal would be limited to the provinces of Diyala, Kirkuk and Nineveh, officials said. They said this would require a revision of the Status of Forces Agreement signed by Baghdad and Washington in late 2008.
"If approved, the altered security arrangement would be a temporary measure to improve confidence in the security situation and pressure terrorist networks," an official said.
So far, Iraqi and Kurdish representatives have not rejected the plan. On Aug. 17, Odierno met senior Iraqi and Kurdish defense and security officials and later deemed this an important step toward the definition of any joint security framework.
"Today's meeting represents an important first step in working through the security issues in the disputed areas,” Odierno said. "I was pleased with the positive and overall sense of cooperation. All parties are focused on improving security for all Iraqis."
Officials said the U.S. plan cited troop levels for a joint force as well as command and coordination. They said the proposal also stipulated an intelligence exchange and supervision.