New Iraq security pact would rule out US troop extension past 2011, ban cross-border attacks

[babylonsister]

New Iraq pact rules out US troops past 2011

New Iraq security pact would rule out US troop extension past 2011, ban cross-border attacks

QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
AP News

Nov 10, 2008 08:46 EST


The proposed U.S.-Iraqi security pact removes language authorizing Iraq to ask U.S. soldiers to stay beyond 2011 and bans cross-border attacks from Iraqi soil, according to a copy of the draft obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

The latest draft, sent Thursday to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, also strengthens language regarding Iraqi sovereignty but does not appear to make significant changes in the limited legal authority granted to Iraq to prosecute U.S. soldiers for major crimes committed off post and off duty.

But it was unclear whether the changes would be enough to silence critics — especially among the majority Shiite community — who have complained the deal favors U.S. interests over Iraq's.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki plans to show the draft to President Jalal Talabani and the two vice presidents. Later, he will submit it to the Cabinet and if the ministers agree, he will forward it to parliament for a final decision.

That process could take more than a month.

In an added complication, the Sunni vice president, Tariq al-Hashemi, has called for a national referendum — which would be all but impossible to arrange before the Dec. 31 expiration of the U.N. mandate that allows U.S. troops to operate legally.

Without an agreement or a new U.N. mandate, U.S. military operations would have to stop as of Jan. 1.

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http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/11/new_iraq_pact_rules_out_us_tro.php

[leftchick]

1. no wonder they are expanding in Afghanistan

the Khandahar Airbase is getting 100 million more for upgrades. I am so glad we are such a rich country.

:sarcasm: