Iraq/US Security Pact News

If you're not up on your latest Baghdad news, here's what's happening. The security pact between the US and Iraq that will allow continued military operations after December 31st and set a timeline for withdrawal of US troops was approved by the Iraqi cabinet. The pact still requires Parliamentary approval.

Below are excerpts from some news stories (and some pictures). The first two are pretty short, the third is just more details not provided in the first two.

Between the two Iraqi leaders mentioned in the first two articles, Sistani is "higher ranking" and more influential that Sadr, though Sadr still hold a lot of influence.


Iraq: US ambassador calls security pact 'historic'
Published: November 17, 2008 (Associated Press)
BAGHDAD: The U.S. ambassador says the Iraqi Cabinet's approval of a security pact extending the presence of American forces in Iraq for three years is "historic."

Ambassador Ryan Crocker made his comments Monday during a largely symbolic signing ceremony with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. The deal still needs parliamentary approval.

Crocker says the agreement also deals with cooperation in other fields.
He says it "reminds us all" that when U.S. forces continue to withdraw from Iraq, the U.S.-Iraqi "relationship will develop in many other important ways."

The Cabinet approved the pact Sunday after getting the green light from Iraq's pre-eminent Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. That followed months of painstaking negotiations.

Iraq Cleric Al-Sadr Renews Vow to Attack U.S., Stop Security Pact
Friday, November 14, 2008 (Associated Press)

BAGHDAD — Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr on Friday renewed threats to resume attacks on U.S. forces, and the country's top Shiite cleric was quoted as saying he would intervene if a proposed U.S.-Iraqi security pact infringed on Iraqi sovereignty.

"I repeat my call on the occupier to get out from the land of our beloved Iraq, without retaining bases or signing agreements," al-Sadr said. "If they do stay, I urge the honorable resistance fighters ... to direct their weapons exclusively against the occupier."

The statement did not say exactly when and under what conditions such attacks might resume.
In the holy city of Najaf, an official close to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said the Iranian-born cleric has vowed to "directly intervene" if the final version of the agreement breached the country's sovereignty.

Al-Sistani wields vast influence among Iraq's majority Shiites, and the agreement will virtually have no chance of being passed by parliament if he publicly states his opposition to it.
He has in the past forced the United States to scrap or revise political blueprints for Iraq, sending hundreds of thousands of supporters to the streets in 2004 to back his demand for a general election. The vote was held in January 2005.





Iraqi cabinet voting on security pact (NY Times photo)


Iraq, US sign pact on troops withdrawal deadline
By Peter Graff
BAGHDAD, Nov 17 (Reuters)

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari and U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker signed a long-awaited accord on Monday requiring Washington to withdraw its forces within three years."


Definitely, today is an historic day for Iraqi-American relations, signing the security pact after months of difficult talks and negotiations," Zebari told reporters after exchanging signed copies with Crocker. Both men smiled and enthusiastically shook hands as officials applauded.


Apart from the troops pact, the two men signed a long-term strategic framework, which Crocker said would define relations between the countries for years in "economy, culture, science, technology, health and trade, just to name a few.""It reminds us all that, at a time when U.S. forces will continue to withdraw from Iraq in recognition of the superlative security gains over the last few years, our relationship will develop in many other important ways."


But the main focus for Iraqis is the pact at last committing the United States to withdraw a force that now numbers about 150,000 by Dec. 31, 2011, a firm date that reflects the growing confidence of Iraq's government as violence has eased.


Iraqi leaders consider the date to be a major negotiating victory after the administration of outgoing President George W. Bush long vowed not to accept a firm timetable.


FIRST READING - Under the deal, U.S. troops will leave the streets of Iraqi towns and villages by the middle of next year and leave Iraq altogether by the end of 2011. The deal also provides for Iraqi courts try U.S. soldiers for serious crimes committed while off duty, but only under very tight conditions.


The agreement's passage through parliament is likely but not assured. Followers of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr oppose the pact altogether, and the largest Sunni Arab bloc, the Accordance Front, says it should be put to the public in a referendum.However, if other groups follow through on their leaders' promises to back it, the accord should pass.


Iraq's government has become increasingly confident of its ability to maintain order as violence has declined over the past year. Last month saw the lowest death toll from violence since the invasion, according to government statistics.


Iran, which has influence among Iraqi Shi'ites, has opposed the pact. But Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi did not explicitly reject the agreement on Monday, saying only that the United States must take seriously the views of Iraqi officials. (Additional reporting by Fredrik Dahl in Tehran; Editing by Dominic Evans)