Gates in surprise visit to Iraq to 'assess' surge, warn Maliki on oil law

Left: Secretary of Defense Gates at a press conference yesterday in Brussels. Gates told reporters today that he was "disappointed" with the Iraqi government's efforts to pass critical laws.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Baghdad on Friday to assess a U.S. troop buildup and press Iraq's government to move faster in passing laws that Washington views as critical to reconciling Iraqis.

His visit was yet another sign that Washington is growing worried about the slow progress in enacting the laws...

Gates is the third senior U.S. official to visit Baghdad this week, following in the footsteps of the top U.S. military general in the Middle East, Admiral William Fallon, and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte.

He is expected to echo their messages to Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other Iraqi leaders -- speed up passage through parliament of legislation that includes a law on distributing oil revenues and holding provincial elections.

Read the rest at Reuters/Alternet

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