So I guess it has all come down to who has legal jurisdiction over the US Military/Contractors. I for one am glad that finally, we are being lumped together in this agreement, and not separate. The whole off duty thing I can buy into, because obviously you will have to be accountable for your actions in that situation. But on duty, and in Iraq, there is plenty keeping us in line(UCMJ comes to mind).
Of course that is my opinion on the matter, and I hope the US negotiators don’t back down on this. And of course Sadr is going to push this issue, because it helps him politically speaking to look like he is a champion of the Iraqi. Or is he just being a champion of his supporters….? Anyways, I hope this turns out well. Inshallah. –Head Jundi
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Iraq seeking changes to US deal
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Iraq’s cabinet is demanding changes to a draft agreement with Washington that would allow US forces to stay until 2011, a government spokesman has said.
“The cabinet have agreed that necessary amendments to the pact could make it nationally accepted,” Ali Dabbagh said, without specifying the changes.
The draft was presented last week after months of painstaking US-Iraq talks.
US officials have not said if they are willing to renegotiate the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
The draft agreement calls for a drawdown of US combat forces from Iraq by the end of 2011 and includes US concessions on immunity for US troops who break Iraqi law.
The US and Iraqi governments had previously said the pact was final and could not be amended – only accepted or rejected by the Iraqi parliament.
It’s time for the Iraqis to make a decision
Adm Michael Mullen
But Mr Dabbagh said ministers would meet over the coming days to “give their opinions and consult and provide the amendments suggested” before submitting the amended draft to the US negotiating team.
Mr Dabbagh issued a statement asking “everyone to view the agreement objectively and responsibly and to consider the public interest”
The cabinet must approve the draft before it can be sent to parliament for a vote.
Sticking point
Apart from the two main Kurdish parties, political leaders have so far withheld their support for the deal.
The draft has also been strongly opposed by the faction led by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr, who brought thousands of supporters on to the streets of Baghdad on Saturday in protest.
Immunity for US military personnel and contractors is thought to be one of the key sticking points, the BBC’s Jim Muir reports from Baghdad.
The pact is said to grant Iraqi judicial authorities limited ability to try US troops and contractors for major crimes committed off-duty or off-base – and only then if a joint US-Iraqi committee agrees.
Earlier on Tuesday, the US military chief in Iraq, Adm Michael Mullen, warned that Iraq risked security losses of “significant consequence” unless it approved the deal.
Adm Mullen told AFP that Iraqi forces would “not be ready to provide for their security” before the expiration of the current UN mandate for US-led coalition forces at the end of this year.
If a deal is not reached by that point, there will be no legal basis for the US-led mission to remain in Iraq.
“It’s time for the Iraqis to make a decision,” Adm Mullen said.
About 144,000 of the 152,000 foreign troops deployed in Iraq are US military personnel.
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‘Dramatic’ consequences without US-Iraq troop accord: Gates
October 21, 2008
WASHINGTON (AFP) – US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates warned Tuesday of “pretty dramatic” consequences of not having an accord governing the presence of US troops in Iraq.
“The consequences of not having a SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) and of not having a renewed UN authorization are pretty dramatic in terms of consequences for our actions,” said Gates, speaking to members of three news agencies including AFP.
A status of forces agreement would replace the current UN mandate — which expires December 31 — as the legal basis for the US military presence in Iraq.
“Clearly, the clock is ticking,” said Gates. “Clearly there is a need to keep moving just so that we don’t run out of time.”
According to Gates there are “only two alternatives: the SOFA or a renewed UN mandate, and going back to the UN at this point there is no assurance that you get a clean rollover,” Gates said.
He said there is “great reluctance” to on craft further changes, as the US government consults with Congress on the current draft.
But, Gates said, “if they (Baghdad) were to come up with something we haven’t thought of, or identify problems we missed some way, we would have to take that seriously.
“So I don’t think you slam the door shut. But I would say it’s pretty far closed.”
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