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.