Some Critical Observations On The New Iraq-U.S. Security Agreement

Sinda, a 10-year-old bomb-sniffing dog, sits with his handler, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt Travis Hazelton, as they wait for word to load up into vehicles to support a cordon and "soft knock' in a neighborhood in Muhallah 904, Wehda, in eastern Baghdad, Iraq, Oct. 9, 2008. The mission was conducted by U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry, 4th Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Brian D. Lehnhardt

Prosecution Of U.S. Troops Under Iraq SOFA -- Captain's Journal

In U.S. Troop Immunity Barrier to SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) one month ago, The Captain’s Journal fired a warning shot on the issue of Iraqi right to prosecute U.S. troops regardless of the sovereignty of U.S. laws and rules of engagement. As it turns out, our warning was prescient and this is indeed a problem.

American troops could face trial before Iraqi courts for major crimes committed off base and when not on missions, under a draft security pact hammered out in months of tortuous negotiations, Iraqi officials familiar with the accord said Wednesday.

The draft also calls for U.S. troops to leave Iraqi cities by the end of June and withdraw from the country entirely by Dec. 31, 2011, unless the Baghdad government asks some of them to stay for training or security support, the officials said.

It would also give the Iraqis a greater role in U.S. military operations and full control of the Green Zone, the 3½-square mile area of central Baghdad that includes the U.S. Embassy and major Iraqi government offices.

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My Comment: A number of good points outlined by the Captain's Journal. It appears that the American Party decided not to go into the details of the agreement .... but operate on broad principles and understandings. If there is an incident .... and it is messy .... the Iraqis could get technical .... dooming any understanding on how non-Iraqi forces can operate in the country.

If passed, this will effectively doom coalition military involvement in Iraq.