U.S. - Iraq Security Agreement And Timetable For Withdrawal

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, right, aided by a translator, in Baghdad on Thursday.(Iraq Prime Minister's Office via Associated Press)

Rice Says US-Iraq Coming Together On Timetables
-- Yahoo News/AP

BAGHDAD - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Thursday that U.S. and Iraqi officials agree that timetables should be set for a U.S. troop withdrawal, but conceded that nailing down a broader pact on future relations is difficult.

Appearing together at a news conference, Rice and Zebari also mutually asserted that a final agreement between Washington and Baghdad on a a broad document spelling out the nature of any future U.S. troop presence and Washington-Baghdad relations is close to fruition, but not yet complete.

"We have agreed that some goals, some aspirational timetables for how that might unfold, are well worth having in such an agreement," Rice told reporters after meeting with Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The two sides had come together on a draft agreement earlier this week and Rice made an unannounced visit to Baghdad to press officials there to complete the accord.

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More News On Iraq

US, Iraq say key security deal almost signed -- Yahoo News/AFP
Rice says Iraq troops deal close -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Rice Travels to Iraq to Push for Deal on U.S. Forces -- New York Times
Iraq, US 'close' to troop deal -- Al Jazeera
Iraq: Sides close to penning U.S. troop deal -- CNN
Iraq Withdrawal Thoughts -- CBS News
Rice in Baghdad to discuss strategic framework between US, Iraq -- ABC News.net (Australia)

My Comment: Iraq will not be the issue for this year's U.S. elections. This security pact will put it to the rest completely.