Iraq Open to U.S. Drone Strikes on Terrorists

[Purveyor]

By Indira A.R. Lakshmanan - Aug 16, 2013

Iraq would be open to allowing U.S. drone strikes targeting al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups in his country, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said today.

“We cannot fight these terrorist networks through an increase in the number of checkpoints or putting more people on the streets,” Zebari said in a meeting with a small group of reporters in Washington.

The top Iraqi diplomat’s comments are the first time he’s publicly raised the possibility of working with the U.S. on anti-terrorist drone attacks, which have sparked opposition in Pakistan.

“There is a greater realization in the Iraqi government that you should not shy away” from asking for more U.S. assistance “short of introducing U.S. troops in numbers,” Zebari said.

Iraq may seek a limited number of U.S. advisers as well as technical assistance and increased counterterrorism cooperation, he said. U.S. troops completed their withdrawal from Iraq in 2011 after the Iraqi government failed to reach an agreement with the Obama administration protecting American forces from local prosecution.

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-16/iraqi-foreign-minister-open-to-u-s-drone-strikes-on-terrorists.html

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. The drone companies are going to make a lot of money

I hope that American taxpayers aren't paying for this?