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| Iraq |
| Pentagon seeks to calm concerns over Iraq troop pact |
| 2008-10-18 |
| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Friday that U.S. troops should not be concerned by a deal that is said to let Iraq prosecute American military personnel if they commit serious crimes on Iraqi soil. Some members of the U.S. Congress have questioned whether the pact offers enough protection from an Iraqi justice system that does not guarantee due process. Iraqi officials have said the final draft agreement, which creates a legal basis for American troops to stay in Iraq after a United Nations mandate expires at the end of this year, states that U.S. forces should withdraw by the end of 2011. They have also said that the pact, known as a Status of Forces Agreement, would allow Iraqi authorities to prosecute U.S. troops for serious crimes under certain circumstances. But the pact appears to contain many caveats that mean U.S. forces would face Iraqi justice only in very rare cases. "I think there is not reason to be concerned," Gates told reporters at the Pentagon. He said Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and his predecessor, Gen. David Petraeus, had been deeply involved in negotiations over the deal, which also has the backing of Adm. Mike Mullen, the top U.S. military officer. "Adm. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Petraeus, Gen. Odierno and I are all satisfied that our men and uniform serving in Iraq are well protected," Gates said. Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have briefed key members of Congress, including the presidential candidates, Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Barack Obama. Gates described the reaction from lawmakers he spoke with as "generally positive," but Rep. Ike Skelton, a Missouri Democrat who chairs the armed services committee in the House of Representatives, said he had "real questions". "I am very concerned about reports that U.S. service personnel may not have full immunity under Iraqi law," said Skelton, who was briefed by Gates. However, Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said initial briefings suggested the deal was acceptable. "It appears ... that the administration has negotiated responsibly on behalf of U.S. national security interests and with the protection of American G.I.'s at the fore," he said. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 and germany and japan are identical to iraq |
| Posted by: Grusoger Bucket1309 2008-10-18 10:55 |
| #2 Standard item in a Status of Forces agreement. Same thing is in the ones we have with Germany and Japan. |
| Posted by: Steve 2008-10-18 09:46 |
| #1 the pact, ..., would allow Iraqi authorities to prosecute U.S. troops for serious crimes under certain circumstances. Uriah the Hittite, front and center. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-10-18 07:28 |