U.S. Proposes Iraqi-Kurdish Alliance In North

BAGHDAD [MENL] -- The U.S. military has been working to form an alliance
between Iraq's central government and the autonomous Kurdish north.
U.S. commander in Iraq Gen. Raymond Odierno has been briefing Iraqi and
Kurdish representatives of a joint security plan for the north. Under the
plan, Iraqi, Kurdish and U.S. troops would coordinate joint patrols of
disputed areas around the oil-rich Kirkuk region.