Iraqi legislators led by followers of a radical Shiite cleric passed a resolution this week which requires the government to seek parliamentary permission for asking the United Nations to extend the mandate of U.S.-led forces in Iraq. Iraqi parliament demands a say in any extension of U.S.-led forces.
The law requires the parliament’s approval of any future extensions of the mandate, which have previously been made by Iraq’s prime minister. It is an enormous development; lawmakers reached in Baghdad today said that they do in fact plan on blocking the extension of the coalition’s mandate when it comes up for renewal six months from now.
This comes hot on the heels of the Bush proclamation last week that the US would leave if they were asked to by the Iraqi political leadership. Until now, the decision rested largely with Malaki.
The move was spearheaded by supporters of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as well as several Sunni parties. Raed Jarrar described the vote as an enormous development and points out that lawmakers in Baghdad are planning to block the extension of the coalition’s mandate when it comes up for renewal in six months.
So all will be revealed in six months, right?