US-Iraq Withdrawal Plan Reached, Mirrors Obama's Plan

The Independent:

Iraq and the United States have finally agreed on a security pact which would mean that US forces would withdraw from Iraq by 2011, American and Iraqi officials said yesterday.

The accord became a major test of strength between the Iraqi government and Washington since negotiations began in March with the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, pictured below, demanding US concessions on the date of the troop withdrawal and immunity for US troops. The pact replaces the UN Security Council resolution enacted after the American invasion of 2003.

The agreement still needs to be approved by the council of Iraqi leaders, the cabinet and the Iraqi parliament. Mr Maliki saw the highly influential Shia religious leader, the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, last week and was assured that he would not stand in the way of the pact if approved by parliament.

Read the whole story: The Independent

Comments

[LemonMeringue]

End the war, bring them home.

This should still be the #1 issue for Americans.

[RobinSeattle]

Obama continues to make successful policy for the Republicans. They should pay him a consulting fee.

McCain? No ideas, corrupt, emasculated and clueless.

Obama: a real president for tough times.

[tyger]

In all my fifty years on this earth I have never seen a candidate have so much impact on National policy! This is validation of the type of President he would be. Leaders lead and in this case, they are following Obama. Wow!

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Exactly right. Even our standing in the world is better with Obama just being a candidate. If we are ignorant enough to elect McCain this will turn everything around.

[harriscrl3]

I dont care what anyone said. Barack Obama ENDED the war in Iraq before he got into office. You know folks say Obama is a 3 year Senator how could he possibly have gotten so far as a Freshman senator. I'll tell you why its because even before coming into the senate he was a leader he was a leader as a community organizer and when he got to the US Senate do you think he just stood by and did nothing. No he was one of the most active Freshman senator ever in the Senate. Even the senator from MN said that she was barely unpacked when she got a call from Obama to meet with other Freshman Senators to get to work. He didnt have as much power to affect all the things he want but that has NOT stopped him from leading. He put forth policies on what he thinks that should be done and of course he had no power but that didnt stop him and of course a lot of the things he saw in hindsight are now coming true. Thats why he is where he is he leads.

Carol

[kylennblack]

I know! And I couldn't be more pleased!

I was reading a Kenyan blog not too long ago and one of the posters said, "America, you have one of our best assets! Use him well!"

I'd amend that slightly from "America" to "Planet Earth."

[GoBarryGo]

Where is the much ballyhooed "imminent" endorsement from Colin Powell??? Maybe O'Donnell didn't know what he was talking about yesterday - ?

[tyger]

It's too little too late. We don't need his endorsement now! He can continue to be a character witness for Alaskan's indicted Senator. I'm really disappointed in Powell. He could have made a different and he didn't.

[SurferKit]

Powell's been a big disappointment. He missed his chance and now it's too late.

[LemonMeringue]

Kiss o' death

He should stay away

[motley2]

It''s not a done deal yet, the parliament still needs to approve it. Will they stall until Nov. 5th?

[lucite]

Is this the "October surprise'?

[lumpyspun]

Let's see...
An average of about 5 billion dollars a month x 26 more months
The US might not even be around in 2011 at that rate....will the agreement still be in effect if we don't even exist anymore due to bankruptcy?

[lucite]

FYI 10 billion a month

[SailFree]

Well, no, it doesn't mirror Obama's plan, which was to leave the Iraqis to the evil genocidal dictator or, failing that, withhold funding so the effort would fail, or failing that, to cut and run before the current plan could even be contemplated. Now that Obama failed to prevent success, he's taking credit for the success! This is Clintonian! Clinton failed in preventing the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 but then took credit for its success! Amazing CHUTZPAH, DEMOCRATS! I'll give you credit for that...

[Fabienne]

Far more people in Iraq have died since the "war" began than died under all of Saddam's reign. He was decidedly bad for the country and its people, but removing him in a way that has caused unbelievable suffering to the Iraqi people was unconscionable.

[GoBarryGo]

Wow -- Johnny Mac isn't the only one off his meds!

[Indubio]

You're spending way to much time listening to FOXNews and your views are so hopelessly inane I can't imagine how one could begin to address your misconceptions with a mere 250 words. May I suggest you do everyone a favor and not vote in November. You have 19 days to learn facts but someone like you could have 19 years and your preconceptions would preclude discovering reality. I'm sure you have all the answers but sadly, they are misconceptions of what is really happening. Your blatant ignorance warrants pity but your bent ideology deserves nothing but scorn.

[Knowbetter]

Read a book, for cryin' out loud!

[JiminNC]

So, its true - McCain isn't Bush since even Bush now agrees with Obama. Ha!

[Tabasco]

By his own definition, Dubya must hate the troops now that he's agreed to bring them home.......

Orwell anyone?

[farii]

put this on the front page right away.this is huge"""""

[TheRoyalWe]

Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing.

[lucite]

What are MCain's plan for Iraq?

[Tabasco]

As an maverick, his plan will break new ground and be free of politics....... as long as George tells him it's OK.

[gabbinjane]

Well, it didn't REALLY mirror Obamas' plan - it wasn't delayed until his presidency so that he could take the credit.

[Mildmannered]

"Iraqi judicial law will be implemented in case these forces commit a serious and deliberate felony outside their military bases and when off duty."

Is this really supporting the troops? I expect this will become a big story.

[gabbinjane]

My dear commentator - that provision is present in most status-of-forces aggreements worldwide.

[lucite]

Hey I too support the troops. However Iraq has a duty to protect their citizens, it is no different than what our government would to for the American people.

[LetMeUnderstandThis]

It seems that Barack was right, again.