US moves without Iraqi government’s approval unacceptable – MP

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A Member of the Iraqi Parliament’s Security & Defense Committee has said on Tuesday that “the moves by the American forces, without the Iraqi government’s approval, are not accepted and will expose them to dangers.”   Iskandar Witwitt was commenting on a statement by the visiting U.S. Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, writing for al-Sharq al-Awsat (Middle East) newspaper on Tuesday that the American troops in Iraq would move unilaterally and in isolation from the Iraqi troops, against Shiite militias attacking the U.S. forces, if the Iraqi troops do not take such actions.   “The unilateral moves by the American troops is not acceptable, if they take place without a previous agreement between the Iraqi and American sides,” Witwit told IraqiNews.com news agency.   “If the U.S. troops move without the coordination of the Iraqi forces, they open themselves to danger as they must consider the opinions of the Iraqi people in such matters,” Witwit said.   With regards to U.S. Defense Secretary‘s visit to Iraq, Witwit said, “This visit is aimed at pressing the Iraqi government and some political forces to support the extension of the U.S. troops presence in Iraq.”   The new U.S. Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, arrived in Baghdad on Sunday, on a surprise official visit for Iraq, on his first visit after his assignment for his post recently.   Panetta had conferred with Iraq’s President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, each separately.   SKH (TR)/SR 649