Context
Radical Iraqi Shi’te cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Sunday warned that any American troops staying in Iraq for training purpose after the 2011 deadline will be treated as “oppressive occupier” that must be resisted with “military means”. A statement released from Sadr’s office described the government that allows US forces to stay in the country as a weak government even if it is for training purpose. Iraqi leaders last week had agreed to give a go ahead to Prime Minister al-Maliki to begin talks with the US about keeping some soldiers in Iraq after the deadline for just training the Iraqi armed forces.
