An Offer You Can't Refuse

[lizbud]

The Bush Administration is warning Iraq of dire consequenses if they
do not quickly sign a security agreement to keep US troops in their cities
beyond summer of 2009. So far the" threat" diplomacy isn't working.


http://www.kval.com/news/national/32940394.html

[Grace]

"There will be no legal basis for us to continue operating there without that,

Bring 'em on home!!

When I saw the title of the article, I figured George was warning them we'd invade them once again.

[Edwina's Secretary]

The United States would never try and influence the internal politics of another country.

[Lady's Human]

Lost in the noise of the story is what this is really about, the negotiations to establish a SOFA with Iraq. The SOFA, or Status of Forces Agreement, establishes the guidelines under which US Forces may operate in a given country, and protects both US Soldiers and the host country. Normal items in a SOFA are where when and how US forces can operate, entry/exit requirements, and also determines when soldiers fall under the laws of the host country or the UCMJ, or both.

The "dire consequences" the US Is warning about is the fact that without the SOFA, US forces will have to withdraw from Iraq.

It's not a threat, it's reality. If they continue to stall, all forces in Iraq, not just US forces, will have to leave.

[Grace]

The "dire consequences" the US Is warning about is the fact that without the SOFA, US forces will have to withdraw from Iraq.

Which is why I said what I did. The sooner the better!!

[lizbud]

The "dire consequences" the US Is warning about is the fact that without the SOFA, US forces will have to withdraw from Iraq.

It's not a threat, it's reality. If they continue to stall, all forces in Iraq, not just US forces, will have to leave.

Not really. US troops will remain with some Iraq soldiers as trainers/advisors
until 2011. The troops will cease to have an active military role in the
fighting. Troops can also mantain bases outside some cities in a backup role.

[Lady's Human]

Liz, that's WITH a SOFA.

Without a SOFA, the troops have no legal basis for being there, and have to be withdrawn completely.

[lizbud]

Liz, that's WITH a SOFA.

Without a SOFA, the troops have no legal basis for being there, and have to be withdrawn completely.

Well, maybe we should take the hint & leave.

[Lady's Human]

"Take the hint and leave" is over simplifying the issue.

The Iraqis want US troops to stay in Iraq for the time being, the issue has been with the details of the SOFA.

[lizbud]

"Take the hint and leave" is over simplifying the issue.

The Iraqis want US troops to stay in Iraq for the time being, the issue has been with the details of the SOFA.

Which details? Do you Know? (seriously)

[Lady's Human]

I'm done researching for people, but I'll give you a hint.

Google Iraq and SOFA negotiations, you'll get pages of results.

(including some including Sen. Obama, in a not-so-positive light)

[lizbud]

I'm done researching for people, but I'll give you a hint.

Google Iraq and SOFA negotiations, you'll get pages of results.

(including some including Sen. Obama, in a not-so-positive light)

Thanks, I will search around for details. (again seriously)

[lizbud]

"Take the hint and leave" is over simplifying the issue.

The Iraqis want US troops to stay in Iraq for the time being, the issue has been with the details of the SOFA.

It seems this SOFA with Iraq has a little more than the agreement pacts
made with other countries. This article describes it as a SOFA Plus.

Paragraph 6 explains a lot.

http://www.cfr.org/publication/16448/

[lizbud]

Google Iraq and SOFA negotiations, you'll get pages of results.

(including some including Sen. Obama, in a not-so-positive light)

Would those comments be in the "classified sections" ? Reading the link
posted for info on status of forces indicates that Bush's advisors want all
kinds of little extras included and want to bypass Congress in the final
negotiations.

Reading all this & understanding what it actually means will take a Harvard
Lawyer. Oh wait, we have one running now don't we.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

[Lady's Human]

The State Department is more than qualified to negotiate a SOFA. I don't think the Marxist (in reference to his 2001 comments about the civil rights movement failing in redistributing the wealth) you are so smitten with has any experience in International law. The stories I was referring to in regards to Sen. Obama reference an attempt (it's a he-said she-said at this point) by the Senator to get the Iraqi Parliament to delay negotiating the SOFA until after the election, which would leave precious little time to accomplish the negotiations.

You may think that the details of the SOFA are "Little extras", but I seriously doubt the troop subject to the agreement feel as cavalierly about it as you do.