Word: parliament
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...days later, in what was supposed to be the quiet Friday before Ramadan, the ministers of the defense, interior and national security and the head of the Baghdad Security Command were angrily grilled during a special meeting called by the deputy speaker of parliament and the defense and security committee of the legislature. Parliament is technically in recess and on holiday until the end of Ramadan (Sept. 19); only two dozen legislators were on hand. But the session, which started at 10 a.m. and lasted past lunch and into the afternoon, was so contentious the deputy speaker asked parliament security...
...have a big challenge and are facing a very big enemy," said Hadi al-Amri, chairman of Parliament's Security and Defense Committee. "Our duty is to make sure of the security for the people." Some members of parliament called for the sacking of the ministers of defense, interior and national security. "We are not in a battlefield, but we are in an intelligence battle," said Falah Hassan head of Sadr Movement. He and others were outraged that the head of intelligence Abdullah al-Shahwani was not in attendance. Others, though, excused Shahwani, citing the last minute nature...
...politician's gauge in the competition for who is the biggest Iraqi nationalist. Indeed, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki this week approved a referendum on the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). If approved by parliament, it would be on the same ballot as candidates in the parliamentary elections set for January. SOFA has thus far reduced U.S. control over key areas - such as Baghdad's Green Zone - and prohibited U.S. forces from entering Iraqi cities in most circumstances. President Barack Obama has pledged to withdraw U.S. forces by December 2011. But if Iraqis vote down the agreement...
...more recent date has some members of parliament and, especially, bureaucrats in the Oil Ministry concerned. That would be July 31, when parliament failed to pass a British-Iraqi security agreement. The British navy, which helped secure Iraq's gulf waters, then left the area. Now the oil-export terminals near Basra may be vulnerable - and the terminals facilitate over 70% of state revenue. The U.S. Navy has said it will pick up the slack, but eventually the Iraq navy must take responsibility. And it is still in training...
Sentiments on the street are mixed. "If those RPGs hit our campaign headquarters, imagine how many casualties we would have," says Fariba Ahmadi Kakar, a member of parliament who supports Karzai. She says she's not satisfied with the extra security measures in place and wants the vote to be postponed. On the other hand, Agha Wali, 32, says he's sure polling stations will be safe and that he plans to vote for Ashraf Ghani, the policy-oriented former Finance Minister. Shafiqa, 21, insists through the cloak of her burqa that she will cast a vote to re-elect...