| Page 2 of 2 < |
Iraqi Officials Express Surprise, Dismay Over U.S. Spying Report
Ali al-Dabbagh, a spokesman for the Iraqi government, said that if the spying report is true, "it reflects that there is no trust."
(By Ali Yussef -- Associated Press)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
The Post's story on Friday did not say how long the reported espionage has been carried out or provide details on how it has been conducted. "We know everything he says," a U.S. official told Woodward, referring to Maliki.
Other top Iraqi officials were more cautious in response to the disclosure. "I think it's too early to comment," said Sadiq al-Rikabi, a political adviser to Maliki. "It should not happen. If it's true, I express my regret."
Liwa Smaysim, leader of a political bloc loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who has opposed the U.S. presence, said the bloc's members have long suspected that U.S. officials eavesdrop on their conversations.
"The U.S. is occupying our country," he said. "They infiltrate everything. They can enter any office belonging to the government."
He said many Iraqi officials watch what they say over the phone and sometimes use prepaid cellphones rather than those registered in their names.
"I am certain that someone is spying on my phone," he said.
Staff writer Dan Eggen in Washington and special correspondents K.I. Ibrahim and Zaid Sabah in Baghdad contributed to this report.
