'Breakthrough' in Iraq pact

[gulfcoastliberal]

Source: Asia Times

WASHINGTON - Despite apparent serious disagreements reflected in a series of incongruent statements by senior officials of the United States and Iraqi governments, they appear to have made a breakthrough in negotiations for a new security pact.

The fate of the pact appeared especially uncertain when, on June 9, the Associated Press quoted an unnamed senior George W Bush administration official as saying that it was "very possible" that the two countries would not reach a deal and that they would have to extend a United Nations mandate authorizing the presence of US troops on Iraqi soil.
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Zebari's optimism appeared to stem from a US willingness to drop a demand that foreign civilian contractors operating in the country should enjoy immunity from Iraqi laws. Washington has also reportedly agreed to reduce its demand for 58 military bases to a number in the "low dozens".

The US insists it will not use Iraq to launch an attack against other countries in the region, such as Iran or Syria, Zebari was quoted as saying - although, as Inter Press Service (IPS) reported last week, some of the language in the March 7 draft agreement appears to be deliberately misleading and leaves open the possibility for the US to respond "defensively" to threats to its troops or other interests.

Read more: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JF21Ak03.html

[Hydra]

1. The Iraqis would have to be stupid to sign this, concessions included

Once we have bases in place and an excuse to give the UN, we can run Iraq without ANY oversight.

[Raine1967]

2. Nothing has been reached, imo.

I don't buy this at all. It smells of propaganda. No one is on record and the entire article is speculative.

[Tutonic]

3. Asia Times=New York Post=News of the World

This is old news that some incompetent has tried to repackage as fresh relevant news. Of course the US is willing to accept fewer than 58 military bases. The Iraqi's are not willing to give them two at this point. And foreign contractor immunity? The Iraqi's are not going to give the US carte blanche for torture, murder, mayhem. And the US would use Iraq to launch an attack against Iran--except Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have made it clear that they will set fire to the oil fields before they allow the US to pillage the country and march on another Arab nation from inside of a neighboring country. I said it before, the oil fields, the embassy, the military infrastructure being put into place will eventually be controlled by someone other than the US. And the oil will flow to China not the US. Bush and Cheney will one day be revered in the streets of China.