Iraqi Diplomacy: One Person Can Make All the Difference

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Detainee in Iraq Poses a Dilemma as U.S. Exit Nears,” shows how one person can make all the difference, for good or ill. Even if that person is a prisoner who killed five American soldiers.

The crux of the matter concerns whether the prisoner, Ali Daqduq, is released into Iraqi sovereignty or taken back to the United States, or Guantanamo, to face trial. The prisoner is definitely a dangerous person who could kill again — his background is as a member of Hezbollah from Lebanon.

The problem with releasing him into Iraqi custody occurs because Iraq has released a lot of prisoners either without trial or upon acquittal. And Prime Minister Maliki may fall under substantial pressure to release this man.

Plus, according to a 2006 Status of Forces Agreement between the Bush administration and Iraq, the Iraqis have full rights to the prisoner, so taking him back to the United States would not involve extradition but illegal rendition. And Mr. Maliki is also under pressure to avoid accommodating the U.S. when Iraqi sovereignty is at stake.

In effect, we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t. And, of course, the Republican presidential candidates are just complicating matters. Without any burdens of diplomatic relations with other countries, or even following the law, they are falling over themselves to characterize Obama as weak unless he transfers the prisoner to Guantanamo.

One person, one dilemma.