Iraq SOFA Draft ?

[jmm99]

Gerald B. Helman (United States Ambassador to the European Office of the United Nations from 1979 through 1981) has written a commertary on the prospects for the US-Iraq SOFA, as well as what the next administration might do with Iraq.

His comment is based neither on the still-classified official draft nor the rogue version mentioned above.

Helman: US has all but Committed to Leaving Iraq
Ambassador Gerald B. Helman writes:

Absent the unexpected, it is unlikely that a security agreement in the form of a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between Iraq and the US will be in place before our Presidential elections and almost as unlikely before the end of the year when the present UN Security Council mandate runs out. ...

http://merryabla64.wordpress.com/200...an-coles-blog/

[jmm99]

The wisdom of waiting for release of an official final version of the Iraq SOFA, before commenting, is reinforced by this WSJ article.

NOVEMBER 7, 2008
U.S. Approves Most Iraqi Revisions to Security Pact
By GINA CHON

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.
....
The Iraqi side had requested more than 100 changes, most of them minor and cosmetic in nature. ....

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1225...ics_And_Policy

What seems "minor and cosmetic" to one person, may not be so "minor and cosmetic" when it comes time to apply the agreement to actual cases.

Anyway, this one still has ways to go (or better, perhaps - more haggling over the rug you want to buy or sell), before its substance can be addressed.

[Uboat509]

Is it just me or is this the time tables that we said that we were not going to do? We said that we would stay until the situation on the ground dictated that it was time to go and now we are about to sign a document that guarantees that we will be out by 2011 and will likely be ineffective prior to that due to the constraints placed on us.

SFC W

[jmm99]

from Uboat509
... a document that guarantees that we will be out by 2011 and will likely be ineffective prior to that due to the constraints placed on us.

Yes.

The caution is that we are dealing with leaked classified information (the DC and Baghdad sieves). The dropdead dates have been consistent in the many media versions. 30 Jun 2009 might be the real dropdead date - assuming that is true, etc. - requirement of retreat to bases, joint operational command, etc.

Probably best to keep powder dry until we learn something definitive.

[jmm99]

Seems that the term classified no longer has much meaning. In any event, this SOFA version (purportedly the English version) may have more credibility than what the media has been reporting.

New Iraq security pact would rule out US troop extension past 2011, ban cross-border attacks
QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
AP News
Nov 10, 2008 08:46 EST

The proposed U.S.-Iraqi security pact removes language authorizing Iraq to ask U.S. soldiers to stay beyond 2011 and bans cross-border attacks from Iraqi soil, according to a copy of the draft obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

The latest draft, sent Thursday to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, also strengthens language regarding Iraqi sovereignty but does not appear to make significant changes in the limited legal authority granted to Iraq to prosecute U.S. soldiers for major crimes committed off post and off duty. ...

http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=448698

While the AP did not publish the full text, it did quote some provisions:

The new draft states that U.S. troops must be out of Iraqi cities by June 30 and leave the country entirely by Dec. 31, 2011. The previous draft authorized the Iraqi government to ask U.S. troops to stay beyond that for training and other assistance.

But the current draft states simply that "United States forces shall withdraw from all Iraqi territory no later than Dec. 31, 2011."
....
President-elect Barack Obama pledged during the campaign to bring all combat troops home within 16 months of his inauguration Jan. 20. An Iraqi official said Obama had been briefed on the current draft and raised no objection.
....
The draft agreement — 24 pages in the English version — also states that "Iraqi land, sea and air shall not be used as a launching or transit point for attacks against other countries."
....
As a further assurance, the deal is now officially an agreement "on the withdrawal of United States forces from Iraq" and the "organization of their activities during their temporary presence."

If accurate, the last sentence says it all. GEN McCaffrey's report (adjacent thread by h2harris) should be read in light of what may be an accurate version of the draft SOFA - which is sounding much less than a SOFA.

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According to my clock, we are now into the 11th day of the 11th month. So, it is time to remember all of our veterans who have predeceased us, including my dad - and his foxhole partner who was killed that day 18 Oct 1944. PVT Miller, you may have few or none left to remember you, but we do - both you and the Graywolf.

[jmm99]

The Iraq SOFA was signed by Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker on Monday. The full text published by the NY Times is here.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/package...GREED_TEXT.pdf

Substantive comments will follow ratification by Iraq's parliament & its troika presidency (if that happens). See also adjacent thread "US Troops Leaving" for news articles on that process.