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The US out of iraq by 09?


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BAGHDAD -- The U.S. notified Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki it has accepted many of the changes proposed last week by the Iraqi cabinet in a draft security agreement between the two countries.

 

Because of the largely positive response from the U.S. on Thursday, Iraqi officials say they are warming to a resolution. But the two sides have appeared close to a deal before, only to face further setbacks.

 

Iraq's cabinet plans to meet Sunday to discuss the pact, which is needed to replace a United Nations mandate that expires at the end of this year. If Iraqi ministers approve the deal, parliament could take it up next week.

 

 

 

 

 

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Associated Press Iraqi national police officers parade during a graduation ceremony in Baghdad, Iraq, on Nov. 6, 2008. The national police academy graduated about 500 policemen after two years of training.

 

 

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Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the "atmosphere was really positive and the two sides are very close," to a final agreement. An Iraqi official in the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, the largest Shiite political party, whose support is key to sealing an agreement, said a deal is closer than ever before.

 

Time is running out to conclude the pact. Because of major Muslim holidays in December, Iraqi lawmakers would need to approve a deal by the end of this month, although parliament could delay its break by holding emergency sessions.

 

The main points of the deal don't change under the accepted amendments by the U.S. The draft agreement still contains clauses saying U.S. troops would leave Iraq by the end of 2011, and American soldiers would leave cities by the end of June 2009. The pact also still states that U.S. soldiers who commit certain violent crimes while off base and off duty could be prosecuted in Iraqi courts.

 

The U.S. agreed to changes aimed at giving Iraqi officials political cover, according to people familiar with the matter. For example, the U.S. agreed to delete a paragraph that said the Iraqi government could ask U.S. troops to stay beyond 2011 to train and support Iraqi forces. That clause had caused confusion and protest among some Iraqi officials, who saw it as a way for the U.S. troops to stay permanently. Even without the clause, the Iraqi government could still request U.S. training and support, and likely will do so.

 

The U.S. refused an Iraqi request to allow Baghdad to decide when troops should be considered off duty when determining whether they could be prosecuted in Iraqi courts. The issue of legal jurisdiction over U.S. soldiers has been one of the most contentious issues.

 

Washington also rejected a proposal giving Iraq the right to inspect all U.S. shipments coming into the country, although it said Iraq could request to examine shipments.

 

The Iraqi side had requested more than 100 changes, most of them minor and cosmetic in nature. Substantive requests from the Iraqi government were aimed at silencing critics of the deal, who have charged the security pact could be a way for the U.S. military to stay in Iraq indefinitely. Iran has also put pressure on Iraqi officials to reject the agreement, saying it could be used by the U.S. to stage attacks in the region

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While I was there, both Iraqi Police and the Iraqi Army were on the take from Mr.Sadr himself. To compound those problems, the Iraqi government wasn't paying their people, so we had many that walked away. There's no contracts for these guys, they can come and go as they please. Most of them are ready, but at the same time, some of these guys don't give a shit. Basically meaning we did 98% of all the work both forces SHOULD be doing.
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"The U.S. refused an Iraqi request to allow Baghdad to decide when troops should be considered off duty when determining whether they could be prosecuted in Iraqi courts. The issue of legal jurisdiction over U.S. soldiers has been one of the most contentious issues."

 

Is it such a problem over there with soldiers committing violent crimes that they need to negotiate a special part of the pact around it?? That's pretty f'd up.

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"The U.S. refused an Iraqi request to allow Baghdad to decide when troops should be considered off duty when determining whether they could be prosecuted in Iraqi courts. The issue of legal jurisdiction over U.S. soldiers has been one of the most contentious issues."

 

Is it such a problem over there with soldiers committing violent crimes that they need to negotiate a special part of the pact around it?? That's pretty f'd up.

The Iraqi's will/should never have any say over what any US soldier/contractor does over there. Once they declare the country "non-hostile", then maybe they can be more stringent on US personel. I've never seen or heard any problem about this. US Soldiers/Marines are on duty 24/7 there. Given specific missions/ROE (rules of enguagement) they act accordingly. If they breach those orders/regulations, punitive action is normally carried out. (Granted IF they find out) The Iraqi's should thank Allah that we haven't been ruthless.

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I think the last place the US will leave from are the two prisons that are there, if the US just up and left those places the Iraqi's would kill every single prisoner in there, not that alot of them don't deserve it but, there are alot of people in those places that "COULD" be innocent but everyone in the US prison system is innocent too. We will never leave Kuwait but I think we will leave Iraq eventually.
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