Iraqi cabinet approves security agreement with firm 2011 withdrawal deadline.
Iraqi cabinet approves security agreement with firm 2011 withdrawal deadline.
After nearly one year of negotiations, the Iraqi cabinet voted “overwhelmingly” Sunday to approve a security agreement requiring “coalition forces to withdraw from Iraqi cities and towns by the summer of 2009 and from the country by the end of 2011,” the New York Times reports. “An earlier version had language giving some flexibility to that deadline…but the Iraqis managed to have the deadline set in stone, a significant negotiating victory.” Earlier this month, the Times reported that Barack Obama’s victory spurred the Iraqi political process toward finalizing a withdrawal agreement. In the words of one Iraqi politician:
“Before, the Iraqis were thinking that if they sign the pact, there will be no respect for the schedule of troop withdrawal by Dec. 31, 2011,” said Hadi al-Ameri, a powerful member of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, a major Shiite party. “If Republicans were still there, there would be no respect for this timetable. This is a positive step to have the same theory about the timetable as Mr. Obama.”
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We’ll still have our imperialistic bases there, fully staffed with thousands of troops, well beyond 2011.
November 16th, 2008 at 11:43 amSomething I’ve never seen covered either by the MSM or the blogs. Does this agreement apply to the withdrawal of the independent, militarized contractors as well (Blackwater, etc.)? If it doesn’t, that’s a huge hole in the agreement.
November 16th, 2008 at 11:49 amI say let’s beat that deadline by at least a year.
November 16th, 2008 at 11:52 amSpencer Ackerman: “The Bush administration intended the SOFA process to entrench the occupation….”
well, with a name like that, SOFA, whodda thought otherwise…
November 16th, 2008 at 11:56 amThe Iraqis have forced an end to the war.
No, the Iraqis have forced an end to the occupation. It’s about time the Iraqi’s stood up for their country. But, what I want to know is did they remove the language that made the Contractors in Iraq accountable for their actions? The last time I read a story on this, that was one of the big sticking points.
November 16th, 2008 at 11:57 ambuzzbomb Says:
We’ll still have our imperialistic bases there, fully staffed with thousands of troops, well beyond 2011.
Not according to the Iraqi’s. They said “no troops” and I’m betting they mean it. And, once our troops are out of the country, I would not be at the least bit surprised if the Iraqi’s take over the Embassy and boot the diplomats out too.
November 16th, 2008 at 11:59 amThe SOFA demands that every last U.S. serviceman is on a plane by December 31, 2011.
and the contractors? the mercenaries?
November 16th, 2008 at 11:59 am“The Iraqis have forced an end to the war.”
good gods, thank you.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:00 pmimpeachcheneythenbush Says:
Something I’ve never seen covered either by the MSM or the blogs. Does this agreement apply to the withdrawal of the independent, militarized contractors as well (Blackwater, etc.)? If it doesn’t, that’s a huge hole in the agreement.
What would be the purpose of Blackwater staying? They are there to support the troops. With the troops gone, what would they do to earn the huge salaries Blackwater is paying them. I don’t believe our government will continue to pay Blackwater to keep their men in Iraq.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:01 pmThere’s also the little detail that presidents cannot make treaties of this type with foreign governments with the express approval of congress.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:07 pmwithout. dammit. “without.”
November 16th, 2008 at 12:08 pmWho cares if the contractors remain? They would do so with the express approval and permission of the Iraqi government – and that’s between them. And does anyone think they (the contractors) want to remain in country without our military there to save their sorry *sses should they get in a bind?
I (and the Iraqi people) want our military out. Sooner if possible.
And this does that.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:14 pmit’s like bouncing off the walls…
November 16th, 2008 at 12:17 pmAl Qaeda in Iraq on ‘verge of defeat,’ CIA chief says
New York Daily News – Nov 14, 2008
BY JAMES GORDON MEEK “Al Qaeda in Iraq is on the verge of strategic defeat,” Hayden said in a major speech on the continued threat posed by Osama Bin Laden’s thugs.
CIA Chief Says Qaeda Is Extending Its Reach New York Times
How the Al Qaeda Terrorism Threat is Mutating U.S. News & World Report
Washington Post – Reuters – The New American – CNN
all 503 news articles »
http://news.google.com/?ncl=1270052950&hl=en&topic=h
What a relief. Simply by being elected Barack is changing outlooks and attitudes in Iraqnam. Had McSame stolen the election, the Iraqis would be digging in for 100 more years.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:21 pmThe same goes for the whole world. Not even sworn in yet, and Obama has already improved America’s foreign relations by 1000%.
How to Tell Your Party Is Dead:
November 16th, 2008 at 12:27 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qi4ezdmO08
On paper all troops have to be out. How are the Iraqi’s going to force us to leave? I hope I’m wrong, but I still think we won’t be giving up those bases.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:29 pmPerry Logan says:
How to Tell Your Party Is Dead
Perry, you sure ain’t dead. You are one tripped out mofo.
Keep on rockin’ in the free world, brother! You da MAN! LOL
November 16th, 2008 at 12:40 pmthe Iraqi cabinet voted “overwhelmingly” Sunday to approve a security agreement requiring “coalition forces to withdraw from Iraqi cities and towns by the summer of 2009
To me , that means our troops will be confined to our Bases, by next Summer.
Then the situation in Iraq will be Up to the Iraqis…for better or Worse.
America has big bases in Nearby Kuwait…and any potential intervention would probably be by Airpower or Special Ops.
An Indication of whether this is working, will be the Fate of the Millions of Displaced Iraqi Refugees living in Neighboring countries.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:47 pmNovember 16th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
#19 pluege says:
who do you think is paying for those contractors to be lawless, uncontrolled paramilitaries in Iraq (hint, US taxpayers)
Yes – right now. Bush’s f***ed up privatization attempt for what our military should be doing is a huge mistake, and one we should never repeat. And cutting them off the government teat can be accomplished with the swipe of a pen by a new administration – and should be.
At the very least, once our military is gone, those suckers (contractors) are on their own, to make their own deals with a sovereign Iraqi government. And my guess is the Iraqi government will want NO part of them – unless it’s to jail them or kill them.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:59 pmFREE IRAQ NOW! NATIONALIZE ANY DEAL MADE WITH THE INVADERS AND ILLEGAL OCCUPIERS. FREE IRAQ NOW!
November 16th, 2008 at 1:49 pmJesus god Perry, I was expecting something political not a DMT trip
November 16th, 2008 at 2:27 pmHooduh thunk the Iraqis would hate their freedumbs?
November 16th, 2008 at 3:07 pmAnd that billion dollar boondoggle embassy will become the most expensive skate park in the middle east.
November 16th, 2008 at 3:12 pmAn on another note:
President Elect Obama, would you please reconstruct our military as a self sufficient operation, like it was in the 60’s and 70’s?
That way we won’t be needing mucking fercs to deploy with us, nor enriching bastards like Cheney/Halliburton when we must use our military force.
Thanks.
November 16th, 2008 at 3:14 pmThis is great news!
also…
“If Republicans were still there, there would be no respect for this timetable. This is a positive step to have the same theory about the timetable as Mr. Obama.”
How come the people of Iraq and the rest of the world see Republicans for what they really are, liars, whiners and blamers?
November 16th, 2008 at 4:45 pmBecause our conservative media, with Fox news lying the way, spews continual non stop spin and lies.
So… are the Iraqis setting “artificial” time tables? Wouldn’t that embolden the enemy? Are they surrendering to the enemy in Iraq, making “surrender monkeys” out of themselves?
Or maybe the Global War On Terror (TM) has come to an end. When will victory be declared?
Or do Iraqis want to lose in Iraq?
Ugh. So many questions. My head hurts.
November 16th, 2008 at 5:15 pmAnd if the Bush administration and their self-deluded blind followers thought that a democratic Iraq meant that Iraqis would magically align their interest with those of the US, they are all for a rude awakening.
I am going to go out on a limb and say that Iraqis will, for the foreseeable future, largely support the Palestinian cause and oppose Israel on many fronts. The new Iraqi government may even start a policy of rapprochement with Iran. Just a hunch.
November 16th, 2008 at 5:24 pmWell, America maintains a military presence in Germany, Britain, Japan, Korea after how many decades ? Therefore, it is safe to say and Id bet the farm that the nefarious interests of America will still be center stage in 2011 in Iraq and THERE WILL BE NO WITHDRAWL.
November 16th, 2008 at 6:01 pm#26 RUC says:
November 16th, 2008 at 6:29 pm..President Elect Obama, would you please reconstruct our military as a self sufficient operation..
THAT would be an excellent first step!
Our military ALWAYS depended upon itself for everything from laundry to food, and that has all changed under the rule of the “contractors,” and everything is worse for it.
As long as the Bush/Cheney cronies are being paid to blow through billions of taxpayer dollars, they sure aren’t going to want to halt their gravy train. A new C-in-C could put a stop to that, but he’s going to accomplish that with the DoD and Pentagon, which may require new personnel all the way.
SecDef Gates will have to be brought on board to the way things used to be = the right way.
> I am going to go out on a limb and say that
> Iraqis will, for the foreseeable future,
> largely support the Palestinian cause
> and oppose Israel on many fronts.
Yep, wow, turns out there was a reason arch-masterbatory- republican hero ronald reagan sold mean nasty saddam those WMD. its because they knew a democratic iraq wasnt exactly in our best interests. reagan was surely no bastion of logic or foresight but compared to Dumya he looks like a certified genius..
November 16th, 2008 at 10:52 pm