US-Iraq Security Pact, by the Numbers

[unhappycamper]

US-Iraq Security Pact, by the Numbers
November 28, 2008
Agence France-Presse

Iraq's parliament on Nov. 27 endorsed a landmark military pact that will govern some 150,000 U.S. Soldiers assigned to 400 bases across the country beginning Dec. 31, when the United Nation's mandate now governing the troops expires.

Here are the main points of the deal, spelled out in the official English version of the 24-page agreement.

Article 4: All military operations undertaken in Iraq must be conducted with the agreement of the Iraqi government and should be "fully coordinated" with Iraqi authorities through a joint U.S.-Iraqi committee. However, U.S. and Iraqi forces have the right to "legitimate self defence within Iraq" as defined by international law.

Article 12: Iraq will have the right to prosecute U.S. troops and associated civilians for "grave premeditated felonies" committed "outside agreed facilities and areas and outside duty status." Should they be arrested however, they must be handed over to U.S. custody for the duration of the investigation and trial, and U.S. forces are responsible for certifying whether the alleged crime took place while the individual was on "duty status."

No such immunity is extended to private security contractors, over whom the agreement grants Iraq the "primary right to exercise jurisdiction."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/usiraq-security-pact-by-the-numbers.html?col=1186032310810&wh=wh