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Feb 11 2012

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Maliki denies Iraqi army chief swap

Media blamed for jumping to conclusions
An announcement from the Iraqi Prime Minister's office has denied reports of swapping the Iraqi Army Chief with Director of the Office of the General Chief of the Armed Forces. Iraqi and Kurdish officials confirm the Prime Minister is not authorized to make such a decision alone for the post is an appointment by Kurdistan Region.

The announcement published on February 8 on the official website of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki reads: "Several media outlets have released wrong information that some replacements will be made in the Iraqi military and security institutions. We not only refute such information; but also ask these media channels to be precise in publishing news and not to trust inaccurate analyses and anonymous sources. This would reduce their [media outlets;] credibility and makes public opinion suspicious of them."

Shwan Mohammed, Security and Defense Committee Member of Parliament in Baghdad said the information published by Iraqi media about replacing the Iraqi Army Chief Lt. Gen. Babakir Zebari by Director of the Office of General Chief of Armed Forces Ali Araji is incorrect and the Prime Minister did not issue any order to this effect.

"The news is baseless and Zebari was in his office, as usual, these past days. We [Kurds] do not compromise over the post with Baghdad," said Mohammed. He added it is not in Maliki's power to replace Zebari because the post is Kurdistan Region's share of power over the Iraqi armed forces and is assigned by consensus.

However, Maliki is Iraq's commander of the armed forces and could replace one of the Iraqi forces chiefs, but not Zebari, noted Mohammed. He added that Maliki should contact the Kurdish leadership before making such a change; otherwise the balance of forces in the country will be made upset.

"We [as the Security and Defense Committee] did call the Iraqi Ministry of Defense immediately after reading the news. They denied it," said Mohammed.

Adel Barwari, Maliki's adviser for Kurdistan Regional affairs, said the news published by the media is "baseless." He added that "Zebari is resuming his work and has not been replaced by Araji." He stated that such a decision would not be in Maliki's interest and he would not make a decision that causes him problems.

"Iraqi political components, except the Shiites, are dissatisfied with power-sharing in the country," said Minister of Peshmarga of Kurdistan Region Jafar Mustafa. Currently, the Kurds make up around 8% of the Iraqi army and security institutions. "The percentage of participating Kurds in security and military institutions should be more than 20%," he added.

Zebari began his military career in 1970 after graduating from the Rustamiyah Military Academy in Baghdad. During the Operation Iraqi Freedom, he played a major role in coordinating with the Coalition forces operating in Kurdistan Region. In 2004, he was appointed Iraq's army chief.