Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (or whatever Bush/McCain call it), Details Leaked

by: Colonel "Joe" USAR

Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 07:31:38 AM EDT


(This is a huge story.  From the diaries - promoted by Brandon Friedman)

The headline this morning in the UK's "The Independent:"

Revealed: Secret plan to keep Iraq under US control

Bush wants 50 military bases, control of Iraqi airspace and legal immunity for all American soldiers and contractors

The dirty details?

America currently has 151,000 troops in Iraq and, even after projected withdrawals next month, troop levels will stand at more than 142,000 - 10 000 more than when the military "surge" began in January 2007. Under the terms of the new treaty, the Americans would retain the long-term use of more than 50 bases in Iraq. American negotiators are also demanding immunity from Iraqi law for US troops and contractors, and a free hand to carry out arrests and conduct military activities in Iraq without consulting the Baghdad government.

And what I think is an understatement of the impact:

The terms of the impending deal, details of which have been leaked to The Independent, are likely to have an explosive political effect in Iraq. Iraqi officials fear that the accord, under which US troops would occupy permanent bases, conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and enjoy immunity from Iraqi law, will destabilise Iraq's position in the Middle East and lay the basis for unending conflict in their country.

Anyone who has served in Southwest Asia will be left speechless. This is absurd and is indeed a recipe to continue conflict in the region. I am sure the American people will agree in November.

Something told me a very wise soldier just "did the right thing." Now it is time for the U.S. Senate to step up to the plate, regardless of party. This is a Status of Forces Agreement no matter what Bush/McCain want to call it.

UPDATE: I am also sure the Iraqi People will have their say in October, November or whenever their postponed election occurs.

The stupidity of this leaves me angry and speechless. It serves as a recruiting poster for Osama bin Laden, it reinforces the position in Tehran, and it destabilizes the Iraqi elections.

I just did some estimates in what this will entail for the US Army. The bottom line is that if you are currently serving, get out as soon as you can.  If you are in the age range for Selective Service, keep your plans short term. If you are retired within the last five years, just plan on an involuntary recall.
Colonel "Joe" USAR :: Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (or whatever Bush/McCain call it), Details Leaked
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Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (or whatever Bush/McCain call it), Details Leaked | 11 comments
Went surfing: (0.00 / 0)
Kuwait petrochemical facility explosion
http://www.gulfnews.com/news/g...

http://www.gulfnews.com/news/g...
Iraq deal
http://article.wn.com/view/200...

Kirkuk agreement
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/M...

Gates in Singapore
http://www.atimes.com/

From Iran [goverment approved news]
http://www.farsnews.com/English

I had posted diary last night just below with some related 'stuff'.

Really, really think that someone leaked this on purpose. Just hope it doesn't end the cease fire with al Sadr. The Kirkuk thing makes me think that this has a lot to do with 'oil'. There's some 'stuff going on with Russia-China in Central Asia that I was going to diary, but I'm trying to make sure that I've made 'real sense' of it.

Breaking News in US Media... (0.00 / 0)
...yeah, right...in your dreams...the lot of them remain clueless.

But, I refuse to believe that the Bush-CHENEY administration will be allowed to get away with this...call me a cockeyed optimist.

I have watched on c-span (0.00 / 0)
2 times recently about this very thing. Congress was trying to force the WH to give them a copy of the treaty(?), so they can a least see what it is they are negotiating with Iraqi Government.

No way! they said that day they were not planning on letting them see it and they did not have to let them see it, but they would TELL them about it. The committee asked them qeustions in everyway they could and were of course stonewalled with the regular bush/cheney bullshit.

The comittee then saw a panal of Constitutional professors/lawyers which told them that it did sounsd like it was overstepping the bounds of the presidency, and that Congress should be involved, they should be able to see everything.

I might have this a bit screwed up, but hopefully you get my jist or maybe someone else saw this on c-span.  we won't know about it untill it's over! These assholes have shredded our Constution and used our Justice Dept. to do it, they have gotten away with it the wholetime, it's all over but the singing!

I do know that Congress does know about, I know that Obama and Clinton have both said something about trying to stop it, I dont know if anything they can do! B/C were very smart they seemed to have covered there butt's very well! I'm too pissed to be optomistic! orry! Boots

[ Parent ]
Hey, Boots...you, too, can be optimistic! (0.00 / 0)
You just need to start focusing on the Senator who really knows what the real deal is and who is actually capable of doing something about it...but he ain't gonna be able to get it done from the Senate!!!

The electorate, in all of their...cough... infinite...ahem...wisdom, chose not to put him on the road to the oval office. Our hopes now rest with the wisdom of Barack Obama and his choice for VP!

[ Parent ]
Hell, why not (0.00 / 0)
just admit Iraq as the 51st state?
Thanks for posting that (0.00 / 0)
  I mentioned it in the thread below very late last night without a lot of time to break it down, but it certainly deserves top billing.

 I'd go a step further and say this rises to the level of a treaty, and absolutely requires the Senate to be directly involved in parsing this agreement and sorting out the details of America's long-term committment in Iraq.

 I'm cranking out new letters to my Senators today. This issue cannot be left solely in the hands of Bush and Cheney.  

I thought you might be interested in this... (0.00 / 0)
...it's a letter written this week to Rice and Gates - regarding those long term agreements with Iraq - from Biden, Lugar, Kerry and Hagel...

http://biden.senate.gov/press/...

[ Parent ]
The Iraqis are hoping to run out the clock (0.00 / 0)
Khalaf Al-Ulayyan, a Sunni political leader and founder of the National Dialogue Council, said bilateral talks on a long-term security deal should be shelved until after US forces leave Iraq.

"We prefer to delay until there is a new administration in the United States," he said, referring to the US elections which are due to take place in November.



"No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they're carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they've provided." - Barack Obama
That speaks VOLUMES n/t (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
Crocker DENIES: (0.00 / 0)
http://article.wn.com/view/200...

Do the Bushies think that Crocker is more believable than Rice or Shrub?  Still think that Rice and Gates should have been in that April Senate hearing, not P & C. Seems like P & C are down the 'chain' a ways. Crocker particularly would not have the pay grade to ensure that any agreement would be sent to the Senate as Biden requested. That's probably one of the reasons that Crocker never gave Biden a direct answer.

Iraqis speak out:
http://www.commondreams.org/ar...


Sounds like what we did after WW2 (0.00 / 0)
After 60s years, we are still in Germany, still in Japan.  Same with Korea.  

And think of what it would have been like had Japan not surrendered, a million dead due to an insurgency.  Insugencies are how Asia fights.  We learned to fight the Asian way with the Japanese then forgot it right afterwards (tactics were NCO developed thus never made into doctrine).

What is more likely to happen is that if Obama wins then you will see a huge migration out of the military.  And if African Americans decide to come back into service they are going to find that most of them can not meet standards (lack of education and obesity).  All a draft would do is go after the "elite", that is those with a college education and who were high school athletes (top 5% of the population).  A draft army would be white, college educated, and male.  And it would be mostly in the National Guard as active duty does not want draftees.  (also in the Guard due to the 8 year commitment)

Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (or whatever Bush/McCain call it), Details Leaked | 11 comments
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