This may actually be the move that gets US troops out of Iraq.

[sad sally]

Very little has come out of either DoD, the State Dept or the President regarding the US pushing Iraqis to let a larger number of troops (so called trainers and their support) remain in Iraq past December. This news may be a game changer - will the US still want to leave soldiers if they don't have immunity?

'No need' for US troop immunity post-2011: Iraq leaders
By Prashant Rao (AFP) – 1 day ago

BAGHDAD — Iraqi leaders said in a statement Tuesday there was "no need" for US forces that stay beyond year-end to receive immunity from prosecution, a key condition set by Washington for any post-2011 training deal.
The remarks raise questions over whether an oft-discussed American military training mission will be agreed for beyond the end-2011 withdrawal deadline set by a bilateral security pact, and how it will be structured if any deal is put in place.

After a two-hour meeting hosted by President Jalal Talabani, the leaders of Iraq's main political blocs said that they "agreed on the need to train Iraqi forces" and quickly purchase military equipment, according to a statement issued by government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh.

But "the leaders agreed there is no need to give immunity for trainers."
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Iraqi political leaders agreed in early August to open talks with Washington over the training mission, but little visible progress has been made since. That announcement to hold negotiations came shortly after Admiral Michael Mullen, then chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, told reporters in Baghdad that any deal would require parliamentary approval stating that US soldiers stationed in Iraq would enjoy immunity from prosecution.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g5qXXakARz0MSzKtL3E0i0RCm7_w?docId=CNG.206b7e3a2746fca52d7eb492b168be3f.801?du

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R