Iraq U.S. Security Agreement -- Mixed Feelings?

Iraq's Parliament (Photo from The Telegraph)

Feelings Are Mixed As Iraqis Ponder U.S. Security Agreement -- International Herald Tribune

BAGHDAD: In the 36 hours after the Iraqi Parliament's decision to ratify a security agreement that sets a 2011 deadline for the presence of U.S. troops, Iraqis across the country were still trying to absorb the meaning of the ratification, for the country and their own near future.

Some were elated that a date for the American departure had officially been set; others were angered that the Iraqi government had been, in their view, bullied into an deal by an occupying force; others worried that the agreement would leave the central government with too much power, and still others were not at all convinced that a superpower would voluntarily withdraw from a much weaker country.

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More News On The Iraq/U.S. Security Agreement

Iraq's PM may be weakened by dealmaking over pact -- Yahoo News/AP
Iraqi lawmakers give US security pact the nod -- Christian Science Monitor
Iraq lawmakers approve security pact with U.S. -- L.A. Times
Iraq a step closer to US departure -- BBC

Iraq U.S. Security Areement -- News Updates For November 26, 2008

Iraq To Hold Referendum On US Troops Pact -- AFP

BAGHDAD (AFP) — Iraq plans to hold a July referendum on a controversial military pact allowing US troops to remain for another three years that parliament is expected to adopt on Thursday in a delayed vote.

"It is not only the Iraqi parliament that has a role in overseeing this agreement , but the Iraqi people," the country's top negotiator Muwafaq al-Rubaie told Al-Arabiya television, adding that the referendum would be on July 30.

Rubaie, who also serves as Iraq's national security advisor, spoke to the Dubai-based network shortly after parliament delayed a vote on the pact until Thursday amid a flurry of last-minute talks.

He later insisted that Washington would have to accept the decision to hold the referendum, telling AFP that "it is an Iraqi issue and the Americans have to understand our requirements."

The 275-member assembly had been expected to endorse the agreement on Wednesday, but its approval could have diminished importance if the agreement is subjected to a popular vote seven months after coming into force.

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More News On The Iraq/U.S. Security Agreement

On brink of vote, Iraqi parliament makes new demands -- Christian Science Monitor
A Popular Referendum on the U.S.-Iraq Basing Deal? -- Washington Independent
No deal yet in Iraq parliament on U.S. troop pact -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Iraqi Parliament Delays Vote on U.S. Troop Agreement -- Washington Post
Iraqi parliament delays troop pact vote over unrelated issues -- McClatchy papers
Iraqi factions haggle ahead of US pact vote -- Yahoo News/AP
Iraq delays vote on future of U.S. troops -- CNN

A Guide To The U.S. Security Agreement With Iraq

Commanding General of Multi-National Force-Iraq Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. Army, bids farewell to an Iraqi army general after completing a tour of a market in Abu Ghraib, Iraq, on Aug. 2, 2008. DoD photo by Spc. Charles W. Gill, U.S. Army. (Released)

From The L.A. Times:

As Iraq's parliament plans to vote on a deal that would set Dec. 31, 2011, as the end date for U.S. occupation, The Times answers questions about the pact.

Reporting from Baghdad -- Iraq's parliament Monday began considering a security agreement that will determine the future of American forces in the country and, if approved, set Dec. 31, 2011, as the end date for the U.S. occupation of Iraq. The Cabinet approved the pact Sunday. The next step is a vote on the accord by the 275-seat legislature, expected in the next week. Here are answers to some of the questions most often asked about the pact.

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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.

Iraq War Updates -- June 14, 2008

Truck Bomb Attack In Sadr City

Iraq - U.S. Security Pact
Bush confident of security pact with Iraq -- CNN News
Bush Shows Optimism on Iraq Deal -- New York Times
Iraqi prime minister says talks on security deal with U.S. are at an impasse -- International Herald Tribune
US vows to pursue Iraq security pact talks -- Khaleej Times
Iraq PM: Security Deal Talks at Dead End -- ABC News
Impasse in US-Iraqi forces talks -- BBC News
Al-Maliki tells why U.S. talks stalled: Sovereignty is key to Iraq's demands -- San Francisco Chronicle
Maliki raises possibility that Iraq might ask U.S. to leave -- McClatchy

Sadr And His Militias
Sadr forms new unit to attack US forces -- Long War Journal
Al-Sadr forms elite wing to fight US forces -- Times Online
Al-Sadr declares war on US forces -- Q And O
US Army detains senior Mahdi Army commander in Baghdad -- Long War Journal
Sadr's demonstrations are not drawing many protesters. -- Long War Journal

Fighting And Casualties
FACTBOX - Security developments in Iraq -- Reuters
Iraq prepares new drive against armed groups -- Reuters
Iraqi offensive underway against the Mahdi Army in Maysan -- Long War Journal
Iraq forces poised for assault in southern Shiite city -- AFP
Iraqi army gears up for next operation in Amarah -- Yahoo News
Flyers in Iraqi city of Amarah urging citizens to remain home -- Kuwait News Agency
Militias Gone But Fear Remains In Basra -- CBS News
Suicide Bomber Strikes Iraqi Soccer Fans -- CBS News
Bomber hits as Iraqis celebrate soccer win -- CNN

General
BBC uncovers lost Iraq billions -- BBC

My Comment: The intensity for this war is picking up .... but it is the Iraqi and U.S. forces that are doing the intensifying. Al Qaeda, Sadrists, Iranian sponsors, sunni nationalists .... they are on the defensive now.