The security deterioration has also forced Al-Maliki to think the unthinkable and seek military and security help from the United States, whose military presence provoked more resistance than it suppressed during its 10-year occupation of Iraq.
Last week, he dispatched Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and two of his most trusted aides to request the United States to provide assistance in combating Al-Qaeda infiltrators in Iraq.
While Zebari handled the public diplomacy in Washington, the behind-the-scenes talks were conducted by Falah Fayadh, national security adviser to Al-Maliki, and Tarik Najm, a political adviser to the prime minister.
According to US media reports, the Iraqi officials were seeking a military and security package that would include Apache helicopters and the prospect of sending intelligence officers to Iraq to help the security services target Al-Qaeda operatives in the country.
Some reports also suggested that Iraq was asking the United States to send drones that could be used in counter-terrorism operations, including the fight against Al-Qaeda.
The Iraqi request came as a surprise because Al-Maliki has always championed the 2008 deal with Washington that ended the US occupation of Iraq and boasted that Iraqi forces were capable of defending the country alone and of confronting Al-Qaeda.
Under the pact, Washington withdrew all its forces from Iraq in December 2011, but left a small force to protect the US embassy in Baghdad and a few military trainers. The Iraqi government also approved a Strategic Framework Agreement with the United States that aimed at ensuring cooperation, including military supplies and training.
It is unclear, however, if Washington will provide Iraq with the requested military capabilities and whether certain benchmarks will be attached to the deal.
At a joint press conference with Zebari, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the United States would help Baghdad deal with the spill-over from the Syrian conflict, including weapons flowing out of Syria into Iraq and combating the effects of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
The US administration has already agreed to sell Iraq $4.7 billion worth of military equipment, including F-16 fighters and an integrated air defence system that includes radar, missiles, guidance systems, training and support, but none of these sales have yet been shipped to Iraq.
There seems to be a sharp bureaucratic and partisan division among the administration officials and lawmakers about Iraq’s military purchases.
While some officials believe that Washington should not sit back and watch Al-Qaeda entrench itself deeper in Iraq, others fear that the American arms could fuel the Sunni insurgency and even fall into Iran’s hands.
On Monday, Zebari announced that Al-Maliki planned to travel to Washington, probably next month, for further discussions of the weapons sales and counter-terrorism cooperation.
The urgency of Al-Maliki’s visit indicates that tough wheeling and dealing is going on and that the prime minister’s direct involvement is needed in order to conclude a deal, probably beyond the military purchases.
