Dead End

That's how Nouri al-Maliki is characterizing talks with the United States on a security arrangement, anyway.

Iraq's prime minister said Friday that talks with the U.S. on proposals for a long-term security pact have reached an impasse over objections that Iraq's sovereignty is at stake, but held out hope that negotiators could still reach a compromise plan.

In his strongest comments yet on the debate, Nouri al-Maliki echoed concern by Iraqi lawmakers that the U.S. proposals would give Washington too much political and military leverage on Iraqi affairs.

"The first drafts presented left us at a dead end and deadlock," he told reporters in Amman, Jordan. "So, we left these first drafts and the negotiations will continue with new ideas until the sides reach a formula that preserves Iraq's sovereignty."

According to Patrick Cockburn, US negotiators have come back with some new compromises, including less permanent bases (I'm sorry, permanently rented bases). But if opposition like this from Sistani continues, there isn't going to be any deal.

An aide to Iraq's pre-eminent Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani urged negotiators to protect the national interest during a Friday sermon in the holy city of Karbala.

"Iraq's sovereignty and economy must be protected," Ahmed al-Safi told worshippers. "The Iraqi negotiators must be up to the responsibility and should have a unified point of view."

The neocons are trying to project power across the region by planting a flag in the heart of the Middle East. Whether it's for economic reasons or just to dominate, it's an aggressive move.

Maliki is in an impossible spot. His countrymen are wary of the proposal, yet his personal security and his grip on power is being secured by the US military. His decision may ultimately chart the way forward in Iraq.