MANAMA, Bahrain: Iraq's Sunni Arab vice president said Sunday he was in favor of a strategic cooperation agreement with the United States, saying the proposed pact would give Iraq a "strong and honest" partner it needs.
Tariq al-Hashemi's support for the agreement, scheduled to be negotiated and adopted by July next year, signals a significant policy shift by the established political leadership of the Sunni Arab community on the presence and influence of the United States in Iraq.
Sunni extremists have led an insurgency against U.S. and allied Iraqi forces since 2003, but several insurgent groups have changed sides in recent months and joined the U.S. military in the fight against al-Qaida in Iraq. The move won back some of the clout the once-dominant Sunni Arabs lost when their patron — Saddam Hussein — was overthrown by the Americans in 2003.
However, al-Hashemi and his Iraqi Islamic Party represent the moderate mainstream of the once-dominant Sunni Arab community and his support for the proposed pact with the Americans could widen the gap between them and Sunni hard-liners.
"There is no doubt that Iraq needs a strong and honest partner today that has the ability and is ready to help Iraq," al-Hashemi said during an address at a regional security conference in Bahrain. "Yes, I am for an agreement with the United States of America, but this does not mean that Iraq will not be able to sign bilateral agreements with other countries in the world."
U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki signed a "declaration of principles" on Nov. 26 that set the foundation for a potential long-term U.S. troop presence in Iraq and confirmed that Washington and Baghdad will hash out an "enduring" relationship.
The U.S.-Iraq agreement will replace the present U.N. mandate regulating the presence of the U.S.-led forces in Iraq. The Iraqi government has said it will ask the United Nations to extend the mandate through the end of next year for the last time.
Al-Maliki, a Shiite, has said the agreement provides for U.S. support for the "democratic regime in Iraq against domestic and external dangers." It also will ensure continued U.S. help in the fight against al-Qaida and in the training of Iraqi security forces.
"I think that the agreement we will sign with the United States will be a good thing, but this is a matter that must be decided by the Iraqi people and Parliament will have the last say on this," al-Hashemi told delegates attending the Bahrain conference.
Al-Hashemi has been a harsh critic of al-Maliki and the two are involved in a continuing public tussle. The vice president accuses al-Maliki of following a sectarian agenda and marginalizing the Sunni Arab community.
Al-Hashemi also has been vigorously campaigning for the release from U.S. and Iraqi jails of mostly Sunni Arab security detainees not charged with any specific crimes. His support for the agreement with the Americans, however, underlines his political pragmatism on a sensitive issue.
An enduring relationship between the two allies in the military, political and economic fields could be a major factor in curbing Iranian influence in Iraq, something that Sunni Arabs have been resentful of and would like to see end.
