U.S. Still Stands By Its Military Agreements With Iraq

Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, the deputy commander of US forces in Iraq, holds a news conference as he handed authority on Tuesday to the last general likely to hold that post, Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick (not pictured), at Al-Faw Palace in Baghdad's Camp Victory on Feb. 8. Mohammed Ameen/Reuters

U.S. Stands By Iraqi Military Agreement -- UPI

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. military relationship with Iraq is outlined by a bilateral agreement that calls for U.S. forces to leave at the end of the year, a spokesman said.

Washington and Baghdad signed a bilateral status of forces agreement in 2008 that calls on all U.S. military forces to leave Iraq by the end of 2011. James Jeffrey, the U.S. envoy to Iraq, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week that Iraq would be "relatively stable" with American troops gone by 2012.

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Update #1: Violence continues in Iraq as US mission changes -- AP
Update #2: US reports 20 percent drop in Iraq violence -- Christian Science Monitor

My Comment: There is talk that there may be a change in the U.S. - Iraq withdrawal agreement .... violence and terrorism is still pervasive in Iraq .... and some are saying that it may be too soon for U.S. forces to leave.

My take .... we are leaving. And while there will be a sizable non-U.S. military presence in Iraq, there is no political will in Washington to keep a significant combat presence in the country. In fact .... saying good riddance is what is probably on the minds of most U.S. politicians and the general public at large.