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The Forgotten War

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.23.2009 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, US Military, President Obama, Pentagon, Troops, Timetable, Status of Forces Agreement, Forgotten War, War, American Troops, Iraq, Obama, US Troops, 2011, Barack Obama, Withdrawal, Bush, Military, 2010, Combat Troops, Troop, Deadline, Sofa, Chris Weigant, Afghanistan, Maliki, Politics News
Chris Weigant

No so very long ago, Afghanistan was known as "the forgotten war." But these days, Afghanistan is hard to miss in the headlines. Obama needs to begin talking about our newly-forgotten war: Iraq.

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Odierno Dismisses Reese Memo Calling For Early Iraq Withdrawal

AP | KIM GAMEL | Posted 09.03.2009 | World

Read More: Iraq, Foreign Affairs, Advocacy, Ray Odierno, Colonel Reese, Reese Memo, Iraq Sofa, Sofa, Sofa Iraq, Iraq War, War in Iraq, Iraq Troop Withdrawal, World News

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq — The top U.S. commander in Iraq said Tuesday an American role over the next 2 1/2 years is crucial to ensuring legitimate nat...

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U.S. Advisor's Memo On Iraq: Time To "Go Home"

The New York Times | Posted 08.30.2009 | World

Read More: Timothy R. Reese, Sofa, Robert Gates, Ray Odierno, Iraqi Army, Iraq War, General Petraeus, Iraq, American Military, Status of Forces Agreement, Nouri Al Maliki, U.S. Military, World News

A senior American military adviser in Baghdad has concluded in an unusually blunt memo that the Iraqi forces suffer from deeply entrenched deficiencie...

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Maliki SOFA Switch: US Troops Might Stay Beyond 2011

Al Jazeera English | Posted 08.23.2009 | World

Read More: Iraq War, Iraq War Wire, Sofa, Iraq Sofa, War Wire, Foreign Affairs, Iraq Approves Sofa, Maliki Sofa, Iraq, Sofa Iraq, Advocacy, Nouri Al Maliki, World News

The Iraqi prime minister has admitted US troops could stay in the country beyond 2011....

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Iraq: What We Leave as We Withdraw

Jodie Evans | Posted 08.01.2009 | World

Read More: Women, Iraq Troop Withdrawal, Sofa, Status of Forces Agreement, Iraq, World News
Jodie Evans

Just six years ago, only the old and very religious were covered, women were employed everywhere and Baghdad University was bustling with young women. Now it is bleak.

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The Beginning of the End of the Iraq War?

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.30.2009 | World

Read More: Troops, President Obama, Timetable, Status of Forces Agreement, Obama, Election, 130000, Withdrawal, Barack Obama, Bush, Iraqi, Elections, Surge, Al-Maliki, Chris Weigant, Sofa, Iraq War, National Sovereignty Day, Iraq, Milestone, Maliki, Cities, Timetable for Withdrawal, World News
Chris Weigant

If our soldiers are out of Iraqi cities, and the Iraqi security forces start shouldering more and more responsibility as a result, do we really need all 130,000 troops sitting in their bases?

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First Milestone Approaches In Iraq Withdrawal Timetable

Chris Weigant | Posted 06.13.2009 | World

Read More: Sectarian Violence, President Obama, Troops, Timetable, Sectarian, Obama, US Troops, Awakening, Shiite, Withdrawal, Bush, Military, Surge, Sofa, Kurds, Oil Revenues, Security, June 30, Article 24, Acceptible Level of Violence, War, Timeline, Status of Forces Agreement, American Troops, Barack Obama, Iraq War, Awakening Councils, Deadline, Combat Troops, Chris Weigant, Oil, Iraq, Maliki, Mosul, Timetable for Withdrawal, Cities, Sunni, World News
Chris Weigant

America pulling combat forces out of Iraqi cities is going to have multiple effects within the country. At this point, nobody can accurately predict what those effects are going to be with 100 percent reliability.

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Change the Tone Towards Iraq

Lydia Khalil | Posted 05.14.2009 | World

Read More: Iraq War, Council on Foreign Relations, Sofa, Middle East, President Obama, Iraq, Obama Middle East Policy, Barack Obama, World News
Lydia Khalil

Obama's chiding Iraqi leaders "to take responsibility for their country and for their sovereignty" was uncharacteristically tone-deaf. He ignored the trajectory of Iraqi politics for the past 2 years.

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Afghanistan Seeking SOFA Terms?

Foreign Policy | Posted 03.27.2009 | World

Read More: Hamid Karzai, Obama Afghanistan, Sofa Afghanistan, Afghanistan Sofa, Sofa, Afghan Defense Ministry, Afghanistan Troops, Afghanistan, Nato, Obama Afghanistan Troop Increase, Us Troops Afghanistan, Afghanistan War, World News

Afghan Defense Ministry document shows desire for greater control of international military operations. The Cable has obtained a draft document drawn...

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My 2008 "McLaughlin Awards" [Part 2]

Chris Weigant | Posted 01.26.2009 | Politics

Read More: Stuart Bowden, Ted Stevens, Jesse Jackson Jr, Ron Paul, Guantanamo, Al Franken, Best Government Dollar Spent, 50 State Strategy, Mccain, Primary Schedule, Awards, China, Worst Political Theater, Drill Baby Drill, Sarah Palin, Most Overreported Story, Andrew Cuomo, First Cat, Howard Dean, Socks the Cat, 2008, Bailout, Sofa, Condoleezza Rice, Katie Couric, Worst Political Scandal, John Edwards, Status of Forces, Sorry to See You Go, Health Care, Aids, Global Warming, Gravel, Election 2008 Coverage, Alaska, Bobby Jindal, Thomas Tamm, Reconstruction, Joe the Plumber, Tony Snow, Bernanke, Democrat, Letterman, Socks Clinton, Most Underrated, Democrats, Barack Obama, Best Idea, Predictions, George Carlin, 15 Minutes of Fame, Honorable Mention, Michigan, Hybrid, Wiretapping, Fred Thompson, Hillary Clinton, Executive Experience, Maliki, Caribou Barbie, Best Spin, Stuart Bowen, Destined for Political Oblivion, Kucinich, Jesse Helms, Private Jet, Beijing, Truth Commission, Going Green, Iraq, Most Overrated, Isaac Hayes, Spitzer, Caroline Kennedy, Bush, Wright, Blagojevich, Paulson, Bo Diddley, Mclaughlin, Unemployment, Inauguration, Destined for Political Stardom, Biggest Government Waste, Snl, Florida, Socks, Primary, Africa, Whistleblower, Best Political Theater, Most Underreported Story, Boldest Political Tactic, Castro, David Plouffe, Jeremiah Wright, Olympics, Harvey Korman, Beau Biden, Bernie Mac, Free Speech Zone, Wall Street, Chris Weigant, Oil, Most Honest Person, Socialism, Michael Crichton, Arthur C. Clarke, Saturday Night Live, Tina Fey, Worst Idea, David Letterman, Tamm, Wurzelbacher, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Love her or hate her, you have to admit that John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin for the Republican ticket this year was without any doubt the boldest political tactic of the year.

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Non-US Foreign Troops Can Remain In Iraq In 2009

AP | QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA | Posted 01.23.2009 | World

Read More: Iraq Allows Foreign Troops, US Troops Iraq, Sofa, Non-Us Foreign Troops, War Wire, Iraq Parliament Speaker Resigns, Iraq Parliament Speaker, British Troops Iraq, World News

BAGHDAD — Iraq's fractious parliament squeezed its abrasive speaker out of a job Tuesday and authorized non-U.S. foreign troops to stay in the c...

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Iraqi Parliament Delays Vote On Foreign Troops, UN Mandate Expires December 31

AP | Posted 01.22.2009 | World

Read More: Iraq Parliament, Iraq Vote Non-Us Troops, Iraq Vote Foreign Troops, Sofa, Un Mandate Troop Iraq Expires, Iraqi Parliament, War Wire, Un Mandate Troops Iraq, Un Mandate Iraq, World News

BAGHDAD — Iraq's parliament speaker has delayed a session to approve a resolution allowing British and other non-American troops to remain in Ir...

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Iraq Rejects Draft Law Letting Non-US Troops Stay

AP | PATRICK QUINN | Posted 01.20.2009 | World

Read More: Iraq Parliament, Foreign Troops in Iraq, Sofa, Nouri Al-Maliki, War Wire, Iraq Rejects Law Non-Us Troops, British Troops Iraq, Muqtada Al-Sadr, Foreign Troops Iraq, World News

BAGHDAD — Iraq's parliament rejected for the second time Saturday a draft law allowing foreign troops from countries other than the United State...

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My 2008 "McLaughlin Awards" [Part 1]

Chris Weigant | Posted 01.19.2009 | Politics

Read More: Ted Stevens, Gold Medals, Begich, Ron Paul, Ramsey, Mccain, Awards, China, Sarah Palin, Cindy Sheehan, Turncoat of the Year, Miss America, Enough Already, Mark Begich, 2008, Sofa, Dennis Kucinich, American Taxpayer, Turncoat, Status of Forces, Shinseki, Prime Minister, America Does Not Torture, Obama Wins, Edwards, Obama Is a Muslim, Barack Obama, Fred Thompson, Best Comeback, Taliban, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, Maliki, Worst Politician, Styx, George Bush, President, Jon Benet, Beijing, President Elect Barack Obama, Iraq, Obama, President-Elect, Most Original Thinker, Spitzer, Bush, Lieberman, Michael Phelps, Blagojevich, Paulson, Mclaughlin, Stevens, Clinton, Bummest Rap, Pirates, Most Stagnant Thinker, Most Defining Political Moment, Shoes, Bill Clinton, John McCain, Rush Limbaugh, Biggest Loser, Somali Pirates, McLaughlin Group, Most Boring, Person of the Year, Jesse Jackson, Throwing Shoes, Worst Lie, Capitalist of the Year, Jeremiah Wright, Bill Richardson, Olympics, Best Photo Op, Biggest Winner, Chris Weigant, Palin, Best Politician, Fairest Rap, Ramseys, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Welcome to our annual awards! For the past three years, this column has paid homage (translation: "ripped off their gimmick") to the McLaughlin Group...

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A Close Look At The Iraq Status Of Forces Agreement [Part 1]

Chris Weigant | Posted 01.08.2009 | World

Read More: Bases, Troops, Jurisdiction, Timetable, Status of Forces Agreement, American Forces, Forces, Iraq, Agreement, Contractor, Bush, Iraq War, Soldiers, Chris Weigant, Sofa, Armed Forces, Blackwater, Security Contractor, Maliki, Status of Forces, Timetable for Withdrawal, Warwire, World News
Chris Weigant

What I found is that the Iraqis got almost everything they had pushed for, and the Bush administration got almost nothing of what they wanted.

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Suicide Blasts Kill 17 In Iraq, Same Day U.S. Troop Pact Approved

AP | ROBERT H. REID | Posted 01.04.2009 | World

Read More: Security in Iraq, Iraq, Sofa, Us Troop Pact Iraq, Status of Forces Agreement, Sofa Iraq, Suicide Blasts Iraq, World News

BAGHDAD — A security pact with a timetable for pulling U.S. forces from Iraq won final government approval Thursday, even as suicide bombers kil...

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Iraqi Council Gives Final Approval To Troop Pact With US

AP | Posted 01.04.2009 | World

Read More: Iraq Approves Sofa, Us Iraq Troop Pact, Iraq, Sofa, Iraq Approves Troop Pact, Iraq President, Status of Forces Agreement, Iraq Council Approval, World News

BAGHDAD — Iraq's three-member presidential council on Thursday approved a security pact with the United States that sets out a three-year timefr...

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Top Shiite Cleric Expresses Concern Over US-Iraq Security Pact

Posted 12.30.2008 | World

Read More: Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, Iraq, Sofa, Status of Forces Agreement, Iraq Sofa, Shiite Cleric Iraq, Shiite Cleric Us Troops, Us Troop Withdrawal Iraq, Al-Sistani, Al-Sistani Americans, World News

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Future Uncertain For Vast US Embassy In Baghdad

McClatchy Newspapers | Posted 12.29.2008 | World

Read More: Americans Iraq, American Withdrawal Iraq, Sofa, US Embassy Baghdad, Iraq Troop Withdrawal, Iraq Withdrawal, Iraq, Status of Forces Agreement, US Embassy Iraq, Future of Iraq, World News

Shelley's lines about a long-forgotten ruler's monument to himself come unavoidably to mind the first time one visits the new U.S. Embassy in Baghdad....

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Iraq-US Security Pact: Bitter Battles Ahead?

The Real News | Posted 12.22.2008 | Politics

Read More: Military, Sofa, George W. Bush, Iraq Troop Withdrawal, Al-Maliki, United States, Muqtada Al-Sadr, Iraq, Sunnis, Shiites, Video, Politics News
The Real News

The Real News Network spoke with Leila Fadel about the Iraq/US deal that will not allow residual forces to stay after 2011.

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Jason Linkins

Newly Signed SOFA To Spur WIthdrawal, Benefit Obama

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 12.20.2008 | Politics

Read More: Iraq Status of Forces Agreement, War on Iraq, Sofa, Iraq Withdrawal, Status of Forces Agreement, Barack Obama, Politics News

As has been widely reported, the recently signed Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and the Iraqi Cabinet could potentially "[close]...

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Memo To Right-Wing: Withdrawal Timetable Now Doubleplusgood

Chris Weigant | Posted 12.18.2008 | Politics

Read More: War on Terror, War Wire, Timetable, Nineteen Eighty Four, Democratic, Failure, Iraq, Withdrawal, Bush, Memory Hole, Doubleplusungood, Iraqi, Sofa, Ministry of Truth, Status of Forces, Orwell, 1984, White Flag, Time Horizon, George Orwell, Democrat, Right Wing, Surrender, Democrats, Chris Weigant, Lose a War, Doubleplus, Hypocrisy, Doubleplusgood, Newspeak, Maliki, Timetable for Withdrawal, Aspirational Goal, On the Ground, Minitrue, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I'm on a lot of strange press lists, so I get a lot of strange press releases, but this is the first time I've ever gotten one from another dimension, I have to admit.

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Diplomacy, Diplomacy, Diplomacy

Jon Soltz | Posted 12.18.2008 | Politics

Read More: Iraq War, Sunni Militias, Kirkuk, Us-Iraq Security Agreement, Iraqi Oil Revenues, Sofa, President Obama, Iran, Shia, Muqtada Al-Sadr, Iraq, Syria, Sunnis, Barack Obama, Iraq Withdrawal Timetable, Iraq Diplomacy, Obama Iraq Withdrawal, Iraq Withdrawal, Obama Iraq, Politics News
Jon Soltz

Diplomacy is as important for keeping Iraq stable as it is for making sure that US troops are not targets of attacks by insurgents, or caught in the crossfire of an explosion of sectarian violence, as we begin to pull back.

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Friday Talking Points [55] -- "Bretton Woods II"? Not Quite.

Chris Weigant | Posted 12.15.2008 | Politics

Read More: Loan, Russ Feingold, Mormon, Proposition 8, Economy, World Bank, New Years, Redistribution of Wealth, Imf, Iraq, Obama, Plan B, President-Elect, Sarah Palin, Putin, Bush, Lieberman, Automakers, Paulson, Rnc, Economic Summit, Senator, Sarkozy, Bailout, Sofa, Bretton Woods II, Midotw, New Hampshire, Tax Cuts, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Taxpayer Money, Treasury, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Status of Forces, Mount Washington Hotel, Reid, Detroit, Taxes, Palin Clothes, Oath, Bretton Woods, Socialism, Speakeasy, Feingold, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Constitution, Mddotw, Chris Weigant, Rahm Emanuel, Palin, Georgia, Harry Reid, President-Elect Obama, Secretary, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I have to begin here today by stomping all over a cutesy term the media has come up with for the upcoming economic "summit" George W. Bush is holding ...

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Seth Colter Walls

Bush Running Out Of Time For Iraq-U.S. Security Deal, House Dems Say

HuffingtonPost.com | Seth Colter Walls | Posted 11.30.2008 | Politics

Read More: Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraq War, Bill Delahunt, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Sofa, War Wire, George W. Bush, Rosa DeLauro, Status of Forces Agreement, Politics News

Two House Democrats are expressing "uncertainty" that President Bush will have enough time to finalize the planned Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) w...

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