Iraq's prime minister warned Thursday that a political dispute likely to postpone January elections was a threat to security, but said American troops would not have to delay their timetable for leaving because of the vote. “Linking the withdrawal process with the elections is meaningless,” Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said. “I think the withdrawal schedule of US forces will continue as it is now and the American presence in Iraq will finish by the end of 2011 in accordance with the timetable.” The United States has factored Iraq's plan to hold elections in January into the pace of its troop withdrawal, including the end of the military's combat mission by the end of August. Still, the US military has said the schedule is on track for now, and Al-Maliki said the 2011 date for a full pullout was “sacred and final.” Most American forces have already deployed to outlying bases from urban areas, letting Iraqi authorities preside over a vastly improved security after years of sectarian warfare and insurgent attacks. But militants remain active, and the prime minister cautioned that the election deadlock could heighten tensions. He harshly criticized Vice President Tariq Al-Hashemi, a Sunni Arab, for vetoing an election law because he wanted more seats for Iraqis abroad, most of whom are members of Iraq's Sunni minority.
