Iraq Warns Gen. Ray Odierno
General Ray Odierno was warned by Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Friday to stop interfering in the country’s domestic political issues.
The successor to highly successful Gen. David Petraeus had said in an interview with the Washington Post, which was published Monday, that Iran was trying to bribe Iraqi lawmakers to oppose the proposal Washington and Baghdad agreed upon on when U.S. troops would be fully withdrawn.
Maliki responded furiously saying: “The American commander has risked his position when he spoke in this tone and has regrettably complicated relations. How can he speak like this about a baseless allegation? What has been said is truly regrettable.”
As is more often the case with Arab leaders it is difficult to tell whether Maliki means what he said, or whether he was acting. Saving face is of incredible important for Arabs, and especially their leaders. Appearing weak, and especially weak towards a non-Muslim country, would be political suicide for Iraq’s Prime Minister, as it would be for anyone else in his position.
Nonetheless, General Odierno would be wise to choose his words more carefully in the future.
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