Iraqi parliament approves new security pact.
Iraqi parliament approves new security pact.
After weeks of contentious debate, the Iraqi parliament approved the long-delayed security pact “that lays out a three-year timetable for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq.” The New York Times reports:
For Iraq and the United States, the pact’s passage through Parliament by a large majority — more than 140 of some 200 lawmakers present voted in favor — marks a watershed moment, heralding an increase in Iraqi sovereignty over American and other foreign troops on its soil. [...]
The pact gives Iraq considerable say in what operations American troops can undertake in the country, and sets limits on the Americans’ ability to search homes and buildings, and hold suspects that they detain.
Peter Juul, a Research Associate at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, recently argued that despite the Bush administration’s claims, the SOFA includes treaty obligations and therefore requires congressional approval. In the weeks leading up to the pact’s approval, the Bush administration refused to release an English-language version of the proposed agreement. The text of the agreement is now available HERE.
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Go figure, they wouldn't release an English version...because what do they have to hide?
November 27th, 2008 at 3:37 pmand now they do...but one questions, was it edited?
November 27th, 2008 at 3:37 pmSOFA is a scam !!
The Bush administration has tried to reverse psychology you into thinking that it was a defeat for them by placing a time table on troop deployments and restrictions on their movements.
It does nothing but keep us there for at least three more years at a cost of 120 billion a year in dollars (not to mention the lives).
Don't be deceived, SOFA is a victory for Bush, and does nothing more than continue the 100 year occupation.
We will see what Obama is made of on how he deals with this scam.
AIO
November 27th, 2008 at 4:02 pmalphainfinityomega Says:
We will see what Obama is made of on how he deals with this scam.
If, as predicted, he keeps Gates on, that is a tacit blessing of SOFA. It took months and months to negotiate it - if he doesn't embrace it, all that work will have to be redone. Keeping Gates is a clear signal that SOFA will work for Obama, at least in the short term.
November 27th, 2008 at 4:29 pmU.S. government "refused to release English version " , there you go , obviously a lot to hide from the American people and given the way they fought, bribed and eliminated Iraqis from key positions , you can't believe a Word about this agreement, which is RIGGED with conditions , gimmicks and tricks .
November 27th, 2008 at 4:40 pmAfter Bremmer ( War profiteer ) landed with plans to PRIVATIZE IRAQI STATE OWNED CORPORATIONS , TO GIVE U.S. / U.K. business opportunities to put their tentacles on them ( IRAQI banks use to limit foreign ownership to 30%, NOW , NOW its 100 % ), so now JP Morgan can gobble up local Iraqi banks, put many others out of business and rape the country of profits , that USE TO stay in the country .
Banks , Telecoms , Sewage , Seeds for Farming (Monsanto taking control), are being taken over by American , British and EVEN Israeli owned companies (telecom , Cell phones ) and OIL was always planned LAST .
As Naomi Klein correctly put " EVEN IF THE U.S. PULLED OUT ALL OF IT'S MILITARY , THE IRAQIS WOULD STILL , LIVE UNDER AN ECONOMIC OCCUPATION " But since obama has admitted on 60 minutes " we need some troops in Iraq to protect out interests " that won't even happen .
The Fortified City (it's not a goddamn embassy ) , will contain several thousand military , CIA , FBI , mercenaries and no doubt high tech surveillance on the Country of Iraq .
Do you think there will be ONE cell phone in Iraq , that won't be tapped .
Theres probably a section in there thats says that if bush or anyone in this administration steps foot on iraqi soil they are to be arrested on the spot brought to court and hung the following day but then again that probably goes without saying and got a unanomous vote for that
November 27th, 2008 at 6:39 pmSerious question - what about the even-greater number of private contractors over there? I see no mention about Blackwater-type forces. What about them?
November 27th, 2008 at 10:10 pmOne can only imagine the hatred the Iraqi people feel towards US after the horrific deeds we did to their country over known lies. And justice will probably not prevail leaving the wound unhealed for US and the Iraqi people while the guilty run free with out treasury.
November 27th, 2008 at 10:10 pmI remember something along these lines in an episode of M*A*S*H from the first season, when the camp thought there was going to be a armistice, but Trapper refused to buy into the celebration that the war was over.
Then when it did seem that it was over, the fighting started again. Then the show lasted 10 more years. We're starting to get along that pace...just that the fighting is real and the anniversary could start creeping up if this doesn't end.
November 28th, 2008 at 2:13 amtigerperson Says:
Serious question - what about the even-greater number of private contractors over there? I see no mention about Blackwater-type forces. What about them?
November 27th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
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From what I've read, they will now be subject to Iraqi law, which is a very good thing. But there doesn't seem to be any specific requirement to draw them down in pace with troop withdrawals.
November 28th, 2008 at 7:31 amI noted this a couple of days ago, but check out Article 27 of the Agreement. It's completely unclear if this "deterrance of security threats" is a long-term agreement or only applies through 2011. There's no doubt in my mind that this SOFA is a treaty, not the simple kind of SOFAs that we have with other countries where our forces may be in-country. Obama should make it clear that, without Congressional approval, the SOFA could be challenged and declared unconstitutional....by either side.
November 28th, 2008 at 8:39 amObama's position is: We should be as CAREFULL getting out of Iraq, as we were CARELESS getting in.
I agree. I trust Obama's intentions to get out, and stop spending our Blood and Treasure on this Bush created Folly..BUT...
If he doesn't APPEAR to have done Everything right, and in a carefull and thoughtfull manner...
The Republican's will try to tie any Unfortunate Outcome around the Democrat's neck for a Generation.
Republicans did this before...in the Viet Nam War. By clever Political Propaganda,Republicans transformed Nixon's FAILED Policies into Democratic Weakness on National Defense.
Then they proceeded to beat Democrats over the head with this , election after election.
Obama, being a shrewd politician, knows this.
Iraqi's Know what the American Invasion and Occupation has done to their country, and will Judge us accordingly.
November 28th, 2008 at 9:25 amSOFA must pass a national referendum?
DOA.
November 28th, 2008 at 9:49 amWait a minute. If the SOFA must pass an Iraqi referendum, then it is not really a binding agreement yet, is it? And if it isn't a binding agreement, then we have no real authority to have our troops there after Dec 31, 2008, do we?
November 28th, 2008 at 10:04 amWeee! Just under three more deadly years in Iraq. Thanks, guys.
By the end of next year the only Americans I want to see over there are the assorted Kagan, O'Hanlon, etc., family members cleaning up the mess that aWol made.
November 28th, 2008 at 11:31 amImperialism breeds terrorism, be it US imperialism (currently occupying over one hundred countries with bases and troops), British imperialism (hundreds of years of occupation of Ireland, parts of Africa, Asia, America), French imperialism (hundreds of years of colonial occupation of northern Africa), Israeli imperialism (occupation of Palestine) or Indian imperialism (occupation of Kashmir).
November 28th, 2008 at 12:17 pmLet us hope that President Obama makes this whole pile of steaming feces a moot issue by removing our troops well ahead of that schedule.
November 28th, 2008 at 7:18 pm