Juan Cole on Maliki in Iran

Juan Cole on Nuri al-Maliki's visit to Iran. al-Maliki met with Ali Khameini, who not surprisingly recommended that Maliki not sign a Status of Forces agreement with U.S. allowing for 50-some permanent bases.

Cole also cites Leila Fadel reporting that Iraq parliamentarians are saying that the U.S. wants 58 bases. Obama wants any such arrangement submitted to Congress for approval, and for us to mouth the words that we don't want permanent bases. How about no bases? Foreign Policy Expert John McCain had no comment.