A new draft of a Security Pact, meant to regulate the conduct of American forces in Iraq, is now under review by negotiators. With the US election less than two weeks away, however, I can't help but wonder how any tentative agreement might be affected by a new president.
The long-awaited revision includes a timeline for withdrawal, that would have US troops out of major urban areas by this summer, and out of the country by 2011. It is unclear whether this withdrawal would be contingent on ground conditions in Iraq.
The draft also clarifies whether or not American forces are subject Iraqi law. Under this most recent edition, troops are exempt from the country's policies only while performing military operations, not while they are off duty.
Before it is approved, the draft must be approved by the Political Council for National Security, the cabinet, and parliament.
Regardless of whether the pact is approved by Iraqi officials, the timeline may be contested by the new president come November 4. In particular, Obama's plan has US troops out of Iraq by 2010, a year earlier than the deadline in the new Security Pact draft.
In any event, it is far more likely that Senator Obama will be willing to have an open and, yes, unconditional discussion with Iraqi officials about the differences between the two plans. The only thing that can be counted upon from the McCain camp is "straight-talk" and an irrational commitment to "victory"-- not matter how long it takes.
Read more about the Security Pact:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/world/middleeast/16iraq.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=iraq&st=cse&oref=slogin
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1 comment:
Honestly, I really hope the Iraqi parliament just plain refuses to sign it.
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