Why the U.S. blinked on its troop agreement with Iraq

News Type: Event — Seeded on Thu Nov 20, 2008 3:27 PM EST

Article Source: mcclatchydc.com

Although the Pentagon officially has welcomed the new accord on a U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq, senior military officials are privately criticizing President Bush for giving Iraq more control over U.S. military operations for the next three years than the U.S. had ever contemplated.

This official, and others, all who spoke anonymously to be candid, offered a first glimpse into the dynamics of the secret negotiations, which gave Iraq almost unprecedented control over U.S. troops in the period between Jan. 1 and a final U.S. withdrawal from Iraq on Dec. 31, 2011.

They said President Bush gave in to Iraqi demands to avoid leaving the decisions to his successor, Barack Obama.

At times, "President Bush wanted this deal more than the Iraqis did," said a senior administration official who closely monitored the negotiations.

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9.2

{"commentId":4142873,"authorDomain":"nearing"}

nearing

IMO, this article doesn't answer the question in it's headline.

{"commentId":4142873,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"nearing"}

2 votes

#1 - Thu Nov 20, 2008 3:29 PM EST

{"commentId":4144296,"authorDomain":"cletuswilbury"}

Cletus Wilbury

You're right, it just poses the question. Is said document available?

{"commentId":4144296,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"cletuswilbury"}

2 votes

#1.1 - Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:52 PM EST

{"commentId":4145358,"authorDomain":"kakael"}

kakael

at this link you will access another link to the whole sofa agreement text...it's the text released to the oil companies i believe...and who says we weren't there for the oil...the oil companies receive the text before congress and the american people...

http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/blog/blog.aspx?id=2937

{"commentId":4145358,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"kakael"}

2 votes

#1.2 - Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:06 PM EST

{"commentId":4146005,"authorDomain":"cletuswilbury"}

Cletus Wilbury

Thank you very much kakael -

From the alleged document: "3. Surveillance and control over Iraqi airspace shall transfer to Iraqi authority immediately upon entry into force of this Agreement."

Hmmm, I can see why the military might have trouble with that.

{"commentId":4146005,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"cletuswilbury"}

2 votes

#1.3 - Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:58 PM EST

{"commentId":4146657,"authorDomain":"kakael"}

kakael

you know it appears to me like our military is going to have all it's hands tied unless thy get permission from iraqis to do otherwise...and if that being the case why even remain there at all...

{"commentId":4146657,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"kakael"}

2 votes

#1.4 - Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:47 PM EST

{"commentId":4146966,"authorDomain":"cletuswilbury"}

Cletus Wilbury

They need our airpower, but want control of their airspace?
Somehow I'm questioning this document.

{"commentId":4146966,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"cletuswilbury"}

2 votes

#1.5 - Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:09 PM EST

{"commentId":4147008,"authorDomain":"cletuswilbury"}

Cletus Wilbury

kakael -

I liked the line in the article you linked: "The Iraqis assume control of their airspace, which seems only natural for a country that has no air force to speak of "

LoL

{"commentId":4147008,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"cletuswilbury"}

2 votes

#1.6 - Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:12 PM EST

{"commentId":4147079,"authorDomain":"kakael"}

kakael

yeah...the "shock and awe" fireworks display pretty much took care of that... :(

{"commentId":4147079,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"kakael"}

2 votes

#1.7 - Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:18 PM EST

{"commentId":4147126,"authorDomain":"cletuswilbury"}

Cletus Wilbury

Yes, using terrorism to fight terrorism, great idea.

{"commentId":4147126,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"cletuswilbury"}

2 votes

#1.8 - Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:22 PM EST

{"commentId":4146076,"authorDomain":"cletuswilbury"}

Cletus Wilbury

Good related one, talks about previous agreements Security Agreement Déjà Vu

{"commentId":4146076,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"cletuswilbury"}

2 votes

#2 - Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:03 PM EST

{"commentId":4155527,"authorDomain":"charles-holden"}

Chuck Holden

The secrecy shrouding this issue is absolutely unconstitutional. The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee yesterday heard testimony to that effect, and Sub-Committee Chair Bill Delahunt stated as much in a letter to George Bush. This is a treaty that must be ratified by the Senate. The full text and summary of subcommittee discussion is available here:

Absolutely disgraceful the way this has gone unreported in the media, kudos to Rachel Maddow getting it into a segment last night!

{"commentId":4155527,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"charles-holden"}

1 vote

#3 - Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:09 PM EST

{"commentId":4155614,"authorDomain":"kakael"}

kakael

chuck...where's the link?...

{"commentId":4155614,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"kakael"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:14 PM EST

{"commentId":4155713,"authorDomain":"charles-holden"}

Chuck Holden

Weird, not letting me post links I guess?

{"commentId":4155713,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"charles-holden"}

1 vote

#4 - Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:20 PM EST

{"commentId":4155775,"authorDomain":"charles-holden"}

Chuck Holden

wow, no go on links i

{"commentId":4155775,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"charles-holden"}

1 vote

#4.1 - Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:23 PM EST

{"commentId":4155809,"authorDomain":"kakael"}

kakael

chuck....just type the url in please...

{"commentId":4155809,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"kakael"}

2 votes

#4.2 - Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:25 PM EST

{"commentId":4155865,"authorDomain":"charles-holden"}

Chuck Holden

ok i am typing but i think moderator is removing? anyway its cantdriveit.blogspot.com on the front page

{"commentId":4155865,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"charles-holden"}

1 vote

#5 - Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:28 PM EST

{"commentId":4156685,"authorDomain":"kakael"}

kakael

http://cantdriveit.blogspot.com/

{"commentId":4156685,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"kakael"}

2 votes

#5.1 - Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:14 PM EST

{"commentId":4157747,"authorDomain":"nearing"}

nearing

Chuck:

ok i am typing but i think moderator is removing?

Nah, it's just that you are still in the 'Greenhouse'. It's Newsvine's probation period for newbies. You aren't fully functional - yet.

Don't worry, keep posting comments and participating, you'll be fully Vining before you know it.

{"commentId":4157747,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"nearing"}

2 votes

#5.2 - Fri Nov 21, 2008 3:18 PM EST

{"commentId":4158499,"authorDomain":"charles-holden"}

Chuck Holden

Thanks for the word Nearing, and the post kakael

Here's the specific url for the full text of the Secret Iraq Withdrawal Agreement:

http://cantdriveit.blogspot.com/2008/11/full-text-of-secret-iraq-withdrawal.html

I really can't believe the lack of visibility to this story in the American Press, you'd thing the Iraqis were teaching us how to run a democracy (the text is a translation from Arabic, originally posted on the Iraqi government site)!

{"commentId":4158499,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"charles-holden"}

2 votes

#5.3 - Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:01 PM EST

{"commentId":4158836,"authorDomain":"nearing"}

nearing

you'd thing the Iraqis were teaching us how to run a democracy

Ha! Yeah. That may be why it's not getting press, embarrassment.

{"commentId":4158836,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"nearing"}

2 votes

#5.4 - Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:24 PM EST

{"commentId":4173137,"authorDomain":"jeffersoniii"}

Mic-715636

Why the U.S. blinked on its troop agreement with Iraq
There are a lot of safeguards and caveats on things that some are concerned about," said the senior Pentagon aide. "It sounds like a big giveaway but it's not

Perhaps now we will see an end to "Support the Troops" manipulation;search em Dano. Which "things" were concerning enough to cause this reversal?

{"commentId":4173137,"threadId":"424308","contentId":"2132966","authorDomain":"jeffersoniii"}

2 votes

#6 - Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:10 PM EST

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"424308","isPrivate":false}

Why the U.S. blinked on its troop agreement with Iraq	McClatchy Washington Bureau	Fri Nov 21	0
Iraq Status of Forces Agreement - before Iraq's Parliament is through with it	McClatchy	Thu Nov 20	2
Under Iraq troop pact, U.S. can't leave any forces behind	mcclatchydc.com	Wed Nov 19	14
Gates, Rice defend US-Iraq security agreement	Associated Press	Wed Nov 19	4

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