adminIn a press conference with Nouri al-Maliki, Iraq’s prime minister, at the White House on Monday, Obama said: “This is a historic moment. A war is ending.”
The president also said that the US would leave behind a sovereign and self-reliant Iraq, and that the removal of troops after nearly nine years would begin a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries — warning neighbouring nations not to interfere.
“Our strong presence in the Middle East endures,” Obama said. “And the United States will never waver in the defence of our allies, our partners and our interests.”
Al Jazeera’s Patty Culhane, reporting from Washington, said Obama issued the warning “directly towards Iran”. “That is the concern, that at the end of the day the Iraqi officials have much closer ties to the Iranians.” Obama, she said, was in effect, warning Iran to “stay out”.
Obama acknowledged differences between Washington and Baghdad on how to deal with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government’s crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, but said Maliki was acting in Iraq’s best interests.
“He has shown himself to be willing to make very tough decisions in the interests of Iraqi nationalism, even if they cause problems with his neighbour,” Obama said of Maliki.
For his part, Maliki thanked the US for its continued assistance in helping rebuild Iraq and said that his country’s relationship with the US would not end with the departure of the last US soldier.
Maliki insisted that Iraq would need foreign expertise to help it exploit its natural resources and progress in politics, commerce and education. — Al Jazeera.
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