Iraq SOFA clears first hurdle

BAGHDAD – Iraq's Cabinet overwhelmingly approved a security pact with the United States on Sunday, ending prolonged negotiations to allow American forces to remain for three more years in the country they first occupied in 2003.

The deal detailing the conditions of the U.S. presence still needs parliamentary approval, and lawmakers could vote as soon as Nov. 24. For Iraqis, the breakthrough was bittersweet because they won concessions from the Americans but must accept the presence of U.S. troops until 2012.

"It's the best possible, available option," said government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh. He was referring to the conflict between Iraq's desire for full sovereignty and control over security and its need for American support and cooperation to achieve that goal.

Al-Dabbagh described the pact — intended to supplant the U.N. mandate expiring Dec. 31 — as an "agreement on the withdrawal of U.S. troops," and Washington welcomed the Cabinet's approval.

It looks like we will have a Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq soon. There are a couple of more steps, but there should be no major problem now. We may have just averted a big problem. As of December 31st, we would have had no legal right to operate within Iraq and our troops would have been left in a very precarious position. This is the agreement that NObama had tried to kill until after Jan. 20th so that HE could take credit for it. I still think he should have been prosecuted for that! He could spend 3 years in jail for it, instead of spending 4 years as POTUS. Where in Hell is the justice??

The rest of the article can be found by following this link. Americans and Iraqis can breath a little easier now, thanks to a lot of hard work on both sides, mainly ours.