Thursday, June 25, 2009
Iraqi celebrate (a soccer victory over South Korea)
Let the festivities begin! Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has declared June 29 a national holiday in Iraq to celebrate the withdrawal of American forces from Iraqi cities. In accordance with the security agreement Washington signed late last year with Baghdad, all U.S. military units must pull out of urban areas by June 30, a process that began weeks ago. The withdrawal is part of the U.S. plans to leave Iraq by the end of 2011. After June 30, American soldiers will only be able to enter cities if requested by the Iraqi government.
Al-Maliki called the U.S. withdrawal from cities a “great victory,” even though many worry that violence will increase once the Americans have left the streets. If the government cannot maintain stability between now and parliamentary elections scheduled for January 30, 2010, al-Maliki’s grip on power could become precarious.
But in the meantime there are parties to plan for next Monday. The only Iraqis who won’t be celebrating are students, who still will have to take their final exams that day, according to the government.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Iraq to Mark Pullback From Cities with Holiday (by Kim Gamel, Associated Press)
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