“I personally think that it’s tragic that the issue of the whole American project in Iraq is now becoming a ball in relations to the party politics within D.C.,” the ambassador said. “I don’t think it’s beneficial for the United States. It’s definitely not beneficial for Iraq to become a tool in Republican versus Democrat or whomever. “This is not helpful for U.S. security, it is not helpful for us, it is not helpful for the region.”

◼ Iraqi ambassador slams Obama, praises Bush’s ‘ownership’ of relationship - Guy Taylor/Washington Times

Asked whether the White House could do more to facilitate a tighter relationship with Iraq, Mr. Faily said, “to a certain extent they can. But we are no longer in a period in which we had President Bush, who took ownership of that relationship.”