U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki walk together outside the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, June 13, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. James SherrillDeal On American Presence In Iraq Close To Collapse
-- Times Online
-- Times Online
Senior Iraqi politicians have warned that a crucial deal between Baghdad and Washington governing the presence of American troops in the country is doomed to failure after eight months of talks.
“The Sofa [Status of Forces Agreement] is dead in the water,” said one Iraqi politician close to the talks.
He added that Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, believed that signing it would be “political suicide”.
The collapse of the deal would severely undermine American policy. An agreement is needed to put America’s presence on a legal basis after the United Nations mandate for its 154,000 troops in Iraq expires on December 31.
Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, claimed last week that the deal was “mostly done”.
The draft pact, painstakingly negotiated in Baghdad by Ryan Crocker, the American ambassador, and US generals, calls for a withdrawal of American forces from Iraq’s main cities by the end of 2009 and a complete withdrawal by 2011.
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My Comment: The groundwork is being prepared for a quick U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. The Iraqi Government is predicting an Obama administration, and are of the belief that better terms will be reached with him.
I tend to disagree, and I feel that this is a strategic mistake on the part of the Maliki Government. President Obama will just order all U.S. forces out ASAP, with little concern on the change in dynamics that will occur in Iraq .... he will do this for the simple reason being that he will interpret his victory as a mandate from the American people to leave.
When Vice Presidential candidate Biden mentioned last week that an Obama administration will be tested with 6 months, I am sure that he was referring to Iraq, and the situation that will quickly evolve there if no agreement can be reached between the U.S. and Iraq.