FlyByBaghdad
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What are the facts behind the row between Prime Minster Nouri Al Maliki and the head of US forces in Iraq General David Petraeus?? What are the true reasons behind arming the Sunni tribes through by passing the Iraqi government?? General Petraeus rebuts Iraq row claim
By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
Last Updated: 1:50am BST 30/07/2007America's top general in Iraq yesterday quashed reports of a breakdown in his relationship with Iraq's prime minister over American support for Sunni Muslim fighters battling al-Qa'eda.
General David Petraeus poured scorn on a claim by an Iraqi politician that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki requested his dismissal after bitter rows. "I don't know where that is coming from," Gen Petraeus said. "He and I have truly had frank conversations but he has never yelled or stood up. This is really, really hard stuff, and occasionally people agree to disagree."
Colonel Steven Boylan, a spokesman for Gen Petraeus, said Mr Maliki had not complained directly to President George W Bush about the highly regarded American commander overriding his government. He said: "Gen Petraeus and other key staff has sat in on every video teleconference with PM Maliki and President Bush and never has this been even hinted at."
By embracing Iraqi tribal groups and ex-insurgents in urban areas, Gen Petraeus has co-opted former opponents to take on extremists allied to Osama bin Laden's international jihadist cause.
Reports that the Shia Muslim Iraqi leadership opposes the strategy have circulated in Baghdad. The government is said to fear the policy is a backdoor route to arming Sunnis fighting Shia militias for territory.
Col Boylan said Mr Maliki had embraced the policy but dissidents were trying to throw "sand in the gearbox" with claims the two were at loggerheads.
While exchanges between the two had been "direct," the discussions fell a long way short of Mr Maliki telling Gen Petraeus he could no longer work with him.
The goal of the Gen Petraeus-led "surge" to stabilise Iraq's key population centres is to create breathing space for Mr Maliki's efforts to build a functioning government. Despite some military advances, Mr Maliki is under increasing domestic pressure as his coalition government fractures along sectarian lines.
Gen Petraeus is pressing on with his policy in the belief it will turn the tide of violence. On a visit to the central Iraqi town of Taji on Saturday, he said he "applauds" fighters willing to turn their guns on al Qa'eda. Men who sign up with the Americans are paid up to £150 per month in return for guard duties.
LONG LIVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH , LONG LIVE MAHATMA GHANDI, and may god reserves the hotest part in hell for Michiel Aflaq and his followers 
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