SOFA Deal: Maliki Gives Tentative Approval
Tentative Deal Reached for Withdrawal of U.S. Forces
"Baghdad and Washington have set a time limit for the withdrawal of American forces during 2010 and 2011 subject to change according to circumstances
The agreement stipulates that arrests by the American army can only be made with the advance knowledge of the Iraqi government, and that no violations of the rights of Iraqi citizens will be permitted.
Iraqi and American negotiating teams also agreed to the return of all U.S. forces to their barracks."
Al-Sabaah, Iraq
August 5, 2008
Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki: Al-Sabaah sources say a tentative deal for the withdrawal of U.S. forces has been reached - and that U.S. troops will be out by 2011.
If this is true, then I oppose this because the US should have insisted on unanimous agreement among Sunnis, Shiites, Seculars and Kurds. What is described here is in effect, a deal to the unilateral benefit of the Shiite majority. The Iraq Parliament is not representative. In fact, it is largely a tool of Iran.
Baghdad: According to a memorandum of understanding to be signed by the two parties after a summary of results is presented to political leaders, Baghdad and Washington have set a time limit for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq during the years 2010 and 2011, subject to change according to circumstances. In addition, Al-Sabaah has learned of an important meeting held this morning by several National Assembly bloc leaders, during which a decision was made to hold a vote on a new provincial election law in the event a comprehensive agreement could be reached. Otherwise the vote will be postponed, perhaps until the next legislative term.
Well-informed sources told Al-Sabaah: "the two teams of experts - American and Iraqi - will present a summary of their discussions to political leaders of their respective countries over the next few days, stressing that, "negotiations are continuing between the two parties and are near a conclusion, which may permit the rapid signing of the Status of Forces Agreement [SOFA]."
The sources, which spoke in condition of anonymity, revealed that considerable progress had been made in the talks and in principal, a bilateral agreement for a withdrawal of American forces during 2010 and 2011 had been reached, subject to change according to circumstances.
Meanwhile, the Ayatollahs are threatening to apply a chokehold to the Persian Gulf.
The withdrawal may be completed by mid-2010, according to our sources. They also say that a consensus had been reached regarding the issue of arrests. The agreement stipulates that arrests by the American army can only be made with the advance knowledge of the Iraqi government, and that no violations of the rights of Iraqi citizens will be permitted. Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and American President George W. Bush agreed last month to uphold a "declaration of intent," that was signed by the two leaders last year, which called for advancing relations between Iraq and the United States of America.
During a telephone conversation, the sources added that Iraqi and American negotiating teams also agreed to the return of all U.S. forces to their barracks, in addition to continuing the training of Iraqi forces and preparing them for all necessary commitments. They confirmed that the political leadership has empowered Prime Minister Al-Maliki to sign the memorandum of understanding, after a consensus national position emerged during the course of the talks.
Maliki is: Saddam 2. Obama will feast on this sellout.
Posted by: McZoid 2008-08-06 |