Iraq's President supports U.S. Senate plan to decentralize Iraq
{{date|October 9, 2007}}
[[Image:Jalal Talabani.jpg|right|thumb|Iraqi President [[w:Jalal Talabani|Jalal Talabani]].]]
[[Iraq]]'s President [[w:Jalal Talabani|Jalal Talabani]] said on Sunday that he supports a U.S. Senate plan to divide Iraq into three separate regions for [[w:Shia Islam|Shiite Muslims]], [[w:Sunni Islam|Sunni Muslims]], and [[w:Kurdish people|Kurds]].  The plan includes a limited central government in Baghdad which would protect Iraq's borders and distribute oil revenues among the three regions.  The Bush administration and Iraqi Prime Minister [[w:Nouri al-Maliki|Nouri al-Maliki]] both oppose the plan, which was put forth in a non-binding Senate resolution adopted last month.

"I think the resolution passed by the Senate is a very good one," said Talabani in an interview with CNN on Sunday.  "It is insisting on the unity of Iraq, of the security of Iraq, of the prosperity of Iraq, of national reconciliation and asking our neighbors not to interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq."

On September 26, the U.S. Senate voted 75-23 in favor of a non-binding resolution supporting the plan.  The legislation was written by Senator [[w:Joe Biden|Joe Biden]] (D-Del.) and was co-sponsored by Senators [[w:Sam Brownback|Sam Brownback]] (R-Kansas), [[w:Barbara Boxer|Barbara Boxer]] (D-Calif.), [[w:Arlen Specter|Arlen Specter]] (R-Penn.), and [[w:John Kerry|John Kerry]] (D-Mass.).  

According to [[w:Radio Free Europe|RFE/RL]], the resolution "sparked a massive outcry both inside Iraq and across the Arab world, with critics suggesting the United States has overstepped its role in Iraq."

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://voanews.com/english/2007-10-08-voa7.cfm
|title=Iraqi President Backs US Senate Proposal to Decentralize Iraq
|author=
|pub=Voice of America
|date=October 8, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aYraIgKc_A50&refer=home
|title=Talabani Supports Proposal to Divide Iraq Into Three Regions
|author=Catherine Larkin
|pub=Bloomberg
|date=October 7, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/10/770D037B-73B3-45F2-91BB-2456A7AE8318.html
|title=Iraq: Criticism Of U.S. Senate's Partition Resolution Echoes Across Arab World
|author=Kathleen Ridolfo
|pub=Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
|date=October 4, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48733258_john_kerry_john_kerry_kerry_announces_support_bidens_iraq_federalism_amendment
|title=John Kerry: Kerry Announces Support for Biden's Iraq Federalism Amendment
|author=
|pub=All American Patriots
|date=September 26, 2007}}

{{publish}}
{{archived}}

[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Iraq]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Iraq War]]
[[Category:Baghdad]]
[[Category:Sunni Islam]]
[[Category:Shia Islam]]

[[es:El Presidente de Iraq apoya el plan del senado estadounidense de descentralizar Iraq]]
Jalal Talabani.
Iraq's President Jalal Talabani said on Sunday that he supports a U.S. Senate plan to divide Iraq into three separate regions for Shiite Muslims, Sunni Muslims, and Kurds.  The plan includes a limited central government in Baghdad which would protect Iraq's borders and distribute oil revenues among the three regions.  The Bush administration and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki both oppose the plan, which was put forth in a non-binding Senate resolution adopted last month.

"I think the resolution passed by the Senate is a very good one," said Talabani in an interview with CNN on Sunday.  "It is insisting on the unity of Iraq, of the security of Iraq, of the prosperity of Iraq, of national reconciliation and asking our neighbors not to interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq."

On September 26, the U.S. Senate voted 75-23 in favor of a non-binding resolution supporting the plan.  The legislation was written by Senator Joe Biden (D-Del.) and was co-sponsored by Senators Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), and John Kerry (D-Mass.).  

According to RFE/RL, the resolution "sparked a massive outcry both inside Iraq and across the Arab world, with critics suggesting the United States has overstepped its role in Iraq."
North America United States Middle East Iraq Politics and conflicts Iraq War Baghdad Sunni Islam Shia Islam