The U.S. And Iraq Relationship -- The Future

From Abu Aardvark:

Ellen Laipson, head of the Stimson Center and former Vice Chair of the National Intelligence Council, has just released a Century Foundation report entitled "America and the Emerging Iraqi Reality: New Goals, No Illusions." She tries to look past the current arguments and uncertainties and focus on more fundamental strategic questions: "where do we want U.S.-Iraq relations to be in five years? ... Where does Iraq fit in America's strategic interests and agenda?" Her core argument is that the US needs to end the exceptional nature of its role in Iraq and conceive of a more 'normal' relationship:

Read more ....

The Century Foundation report entitled "America and the Emerging Iraqi Reality: New Goals, No Illusions. -- The Link Is Here.

More News On The Iraq - U.S. Relationship Here:
Iraqis Condemn American Demands -- Washington Post
Long-term deal between Iraq, U.S. loses ground -- Seattle Times
Senior official confident of US-Iraq deal in July -- Washington Post
U.S. Security Agreements and Iraq -- Council On Foreign Relations
Backgrounder: U.S. Security Agreements and Iraq -- New York Times

My Comment: The politics and posturing aside .... Iraq and the U.S. will be signing an agreement this year. U.S. forces will be present and based in Iraq for a number of years. Terrorist activity in Iraq will be present for as long as I will be alive. Iraq's neighbors will never appreciate the presence of American forces in Iraq, nor the possibility that Iraq may attain a level of peace and democracy.

In short .... because of oil and U.S. strategic security concerns, as well as Iraqis realizing that their neighbors may not hold their interests to heart, both sides will come to some amicable agreement. Probably by the end of this year.