It doesn’t mean that there aren’t still dangers in Iraq, and obviously we’ve seen that in some circumstances, those who want to sow sectarian division inside of Iraq are going to still resort to the killing of innocents and the senseless bombings that plagued Iraq for such a long time after Saddam Hussein was deposed.
But what we’ve seen is, is that the violence levels have remained low, the cooperation between U.S. forces and Iraqi forces has remained high, and we have every confidence that we will continue to work together cooperatively and make adjustments where necessary to assure that, as we move into the national elections, that Iraq continues on the progress of stability and that Iraqi security forces are continually ramping up their capabilities so that ultimately we are going to be able to fulfill our commitment to pull out our troops entirely and interact with Iraq as a full, sovereign country that it is.
PRIME MINISTER MALIKI: First of all, excuse me, the relationship between the Iraqi forces and the Iraqi forces after the withdrawal from cities and towns are good, constant cooperation. There are the support coming from the American forces next to the Iraqi forces that are operating. It is normal that the responsibility is bigger and the role is bigger as a result of the security agreement, but also based on the agreement of the withdrawal.
If the Iraqi forces would require the support from the American forces, they will ask the American side through coordinating committees that organize these operations. And I believe what’s happening is organizing the roles between the two sides and cooperation. It is not to marginalize the role of any side. Based on the agreement, we are still under a joint responsibility to face any threats Iraq is facing.
Q (Asked in Arabic.)
PRESIDENT OBAMA: My translation is not coming through here, guys, and my Arabic is a little shaky. (Laughter.) Here we go.
Q (As translated.) Based on the agreement, the security agreement between the United States and Iraq, the United States should help Iraq to get out of Chapter 7. What steps will you be doing in order to help Iraq to get out of Chapter 7?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: This is an area that Prime Minister Maliki emphasized, and we have made a strong commitment to work with Iraq to get out of the Chapter 7 constraints that were imposed after the Gulf War. As I stated before, it, I think, would be a mistake for Iraq to continue to be burdened by the sins of a deposed dictator.
Now, in order to do that, we’re going to have to obtain cooperation from various members of the United Nations. I think that there are going to have to be some specific disputes that are resolved between Iraq and some of its neighbors. We intend to be very constructive in that process, but we have said clearly, and I’ve repeated today to the Prime Minister, that we will work diligently with Iraq so that, in fact, Iraq is no longer within Chapter 7.