"We will not allow Iraq to become a platform for harming the security of Iran and neighbours," al-Maliki was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as saying.
Earlier, Ali al-Dabbagh, an Iraqi government spokesman, said al-Maliki will brief Iranian leaders on "the Iraqi vision, which is that it will not serve as a base or staging ground to launch attacks against neighbouring countries".
(http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1220275A-2260-4C0E-8825-F6CF8671AF14.htm) The BBC news and other organisations also reported this story this morning.
With war sabers a-rattling, and US plans/demands to create permanent bases in Iraq, Iraqi PM states clearly that Iraq will not be a launching ground for an attack on its neighbours. With W seemingly more and more determined to attack Iran, its options for ground bases are growing more limited.
Iran has signed non aggression pacts with other Caspian sea bordering countries, agreeing none of said states will allow themselves to be launching grounds for an attack on any other caspian sea state.
Certainly, the USA doesn't need bases if the plans are to simply drop some bombs. But given the overwhelming opposition from the region, a simple and quick (or is it "shock and awe?) bombing campaign would almost certainly turn in to a full scale war, which would indeed require bases for ground troops.
Of course, this isn't the first time Iraqi MPs have rejected attempts at being made a client state. Last week a majority of MPs sent a letter to congress, stating they would not approve the proposed security agreement unless it was definitively linked to a plan to pull US forces out of Iraq. The "security agreement" allowed in part that
Soldiers stationed there would be granted full immunity from Iraqi law and a free hand to conduct arrests and military operations without the consent of Baghdad, or even an obligation to consult the Iraqi government, according to the report.
It also said the US wanted control of Iraqi airspace below about 9,700m. agreement, after massive protests from iraqi people.
(http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/E7746317-B6C6-4D42-B2DD-03BCDBC89D02.htm)
While I have been, and rather remain, a harsh critic of Maliki, I am pleased to see him not being a complete lap-dog to the United states. Of course, how much of his newfound independence is linked to his fear of the next elections is yet to be seen....