Iraq, US security advisors meet at White House

By Pat Reber Oct 29, 2011, 21:49 GMT

Washington - The top national security advisors of the United States and Iraq met Saturday at the White House, signalling the continued close cooperation of the two countries as US troops prepare to depart by year's end.

Falah al-Fayyadh and Tom Donilon were following up on a recent video teleconference between US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, according to a statement issued by the White House.

Obama earlier this month announced that all US troops will leave Iraq by year's end after talks failed between Washington and Baghdad that would have kept some soldiers in the country longer. The withdrawal deadline had already been set by an Iraqi-US agreement under Obama's predecessor, George W Bush.

Security concerns are on the rebound after violence had dropped since Sunni-Shiite bloodshed peaked in 2006. Bombings have recently become an almost daily event, often targeting security personnel, as the December 31 deadline nears.

On Saturday alone, at least five people were killed in separate attacks in the southern city of Kut and in Tikrit. Since Wednesday, a total of 37 people have been killed in bombings and other attacks.

Al-Fayyadh and Donilon 'reaffirmed the common vision of a broad, deep strategic partnership between the United States and Iraq' as provided for in the strategic framework under which troops are being withdrawn.

'The two held a far-reaching discussion of the elements of a fully normalized relationship between Iraq and the United States, including education, investment, and security,' the White House Said. 'And they committed to develop additional mechanisms to establish a continuous strategic dialogue between the United States and Iraq.'

US forces have already left 485 posts and military bases, an Iraqi official said earlier this week.

Earlier talks to keep a contingent of US forces in Iraq had reportedly broken down over the Iraqi government's reluctance to grant immunity to troops that would have remained after December, a key prerequisite for Washington to keep troops there after the long agreed-upon deadline for total withdrawal.

However, US officials have indicated Washington will have a considerable force of military trainers under private contract after December to help train Iraqi security forces to use weapons supplied by the United States. A State Department spokeswoman said they will be supervised by about 100 security experts who will be part of the large US embassy presence in Baghdad.

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