21 August 2008
U.S.-Iraq Agreement on Military Forces Nearing Completion
Rice says any agreement must respect Iraqi sovereignty
Washington -- The United States and Iraq are very close to completing a final strategic agreement that will permit U.S. military forces to remain in Iraq and continue to conduct operations after a United Nations mandate ends December 31.
"We are working together as partners to make certain that we cover the concerns of both parties for the sovereignty of the Iraqi government," Rice said at an August 21 briefing in Baghdad with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. She said a draft agreement will have to be reviewed by several different agencies in Iraq, including the Iraqi cabinet and the Iraqi parliament. It also will have to be reviewed and approved by the Bush administration, but not the U.S. Congress.
At issue are two agreements. One is a strategic framework agreement that allows the U.S.-led coalition to continue military operations in Iraq, replacing the U.N. mandate. It is significant because it gives the Iraqi government a direct say over foreign troops in its country. The second is a status of forces agreement that would govern U.S. military forces while they are serving in Iraq.
Zebari praised the U.S. negotiators for exhibiting "a great deal of flexibility and understanding."
He said reaching agreement on the strategic framework has taken as long as it has because of the highly sensitive nature of its terms in relation to Iraqi sovereignty, stability and interests.
Rice said the agreement and the future of U.S. forces in Iraq are under discussion now because of the success gained with the surge of forces in 2007 and because the Iraqis have been able to assume more responsibility for their security.
"We're talking about an agreement that is going to build a firm foundation for building on the significant success that we've had together in the last year, and it gives more and more responsibility to Iraqi forces," Rice said.
White House deputy press secretary Gordon Johndroe, at a White House briefing August 21, said the president has been in close consultation with leadership in the U.S. Congress. But he also said the agreement does not require congressional approval. "It's not a treaty, so it would not require Senate ratification," he said.
President Bush has been in consultations directly with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Johndroe said.
"The goal that both the United States and Iraq have is that Iraqi security forces are able to take more of the lead in combat missions and the United States forces can move into an overwatch role" where they will be out of direct combat, but able to respond as needed, he said. "That has been our goal all along."
The United States has withdrawn five combat brigades inserted when the surge began last year, but Johndroe said the president will wait for a report in September from General David Petraeus, commander of coalition forces in Iraq, to determine if more troops can be withdrawn.
