by Deb Cupples | Apparently, many Iraqis are not happy about the prospect of having U.S. military presence in their homeland for years to come. This makes sense, given that the Iraqi people no longer have good infrastructure or utilities -- that and thousands of civilians have been wounded or killed since the U.S. invaded their nation.
But then, when have the Iraqi people's opinions mattered to the Bush Administration? Agence France Presse reports:
"Thousands of supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr demonstrated in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq after Friday prayers to denounce a government deal with Washington on US troop levels. Followers of the anti-US cleric brandished placards outside mosques in their Sadr City Shiite stronghold in the capital as security forces stepped up their presence there."
A key member of the Sadrist movement, Sheikh Mohannad Al-Gazawi, denounced the proposed deal that will extend the US troop presence in Iraq beyond 2008.
"This agreement binds Iraq and gives 99 percent of the country to America," he said.
The faithful carried placards slamming "the disastrous agreement that tears Iraq apart and gives in to the occupying power." Another said: "This agreement surrenders the sovereignty of Iraq." (AFP)
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