Iraq: Future Relationship

A Partnership With Iraq, (Washington Post)…Editorial, June 15, 2008 Pg. B6

The Shiite government signals a desire for an alliance with the United States. Shouldn’t that be welcomed?

Mr. Maliki refused. He assured his Iranian hosts that Iraq would not be a launching pad for an American attack on Iran. But he pointedly told a press briefing that negotiations on the strategic partnership would continue. He repeated that commitment on Friday, even after warning that the talks had "reached a dead end."

In effect, the Iraqi prime minister was saying that his country does not want to become an Iranian satellite but an independent Arab state that would look to the United States to ensure its security.