Hands off Iraqi oil: US Tells Maliki to Pass Oil Law by July

U.S. warns Iraq progress needs to be made - Military leader urges al-Maliki to take more initiative in countering foes

By MICHAEL R. GORDON
New York Times
BAGHDAD — The top American military commander for the Middle East haswarned Iraq's prime minister in a closed-door conversation that the Iraqi government needs to make tangible political progress by next month to counter the growing tide of opposition to the war in Congress.
In a Sunday afternoon discussion that mixed gentle coaxing with asober appraisal of politics in Baghdad and Washington, the commander,Adm. William Fallon, told Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that theIraqi government should aim to complete a law on the division of oil proceeds by July. Iraq's Shiite dominated-government, Fallon added in the meeting, has consolidated power and should have the confidence to reach out to its opponents. "You have the power," Fallon said. "You should take the initiative."
Assurances from al-Maliki
The admiral's appeal, which was made in the presence of Ryan C.Crocker, the American ambassador to Iraq, a senior political adviser to the command, and this reporter, elicited an assurance fromal-Maliki that he hoped to make some progress over the coming weeks. But he also offered a lengthy account of the tribulations facing the Iraqi government, including tenuous security, distrustful neighboring Sunni states, and a complex legal agenda."There are lots of difficulties that are not well-understood from outside," al-Maliki said. "Still, we're trying hard."
Fallon, who is in charge of the U.S. Central Command, used a whirlwindtrip to Iraq to reinforce Washington's public and private message that political progress was lagging. This reporter, who is accompanyingFallon on his trip to Iraq, was allowed into the meeting. It was only at the end of the meeting that American officials agreed that it could be on the record.