MALIKI ISN'T GIVING IN TO CHENEY & THE NEO-CONS

AP and Reuters report that he and most other Iraqis refuse to agree to a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that severely limits Iraqi sovereignty.

The U.S. demands "violate Iraqi sovereignty. At the end, we reached a dead end," he said.

The prime minister, who spoke to reporters during a visit to neighboring Jordan, said of the American demands that "this is not acceptable."

Maliki said Iraq objected to Washington's insistence on giving its troops immunity from prosecution in Iraq and freedom to conduct operations independent of Iraqi control. He said Iraq could not allow U.S. forces to detain Iraqis or allow them to "keep Iraqi skies and waters open for themselves whenever they want."

Maliki said Iraq rejected giving immunity to thousands of security guards and other contractors working for U.S. forces and government in Iraq.