Has a deal been cut with Iraq??

US, Iraq deal sees long-term US presence By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer


1 hour, 46 minutes ago











WASHINGTON - President Bush on Monday signed a deal setting the foundation for a potential long-term U.S. troop presence in Iraq, with details to be negotiated over matters that have defined the war debate at home — how many U.S. forces will stay in the country, and for how long.





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The agreement between Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki confirms that the United States and Iraq will hash out an "enduring" relationship in military, economic and political terms. Details of that relationship will be negotiated in 2008, with a completion goal of July, when the U.S. intends to finish withdrawing the five combat brigades sent in 2007 as part of the troop buildup that has helped curb sectarian violence.





"What U.S. troops are doing, how many troops are required to do that, are bases required, which partners will join them — all these things are on the negotiating table," said Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, President Bush's adviser on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.





The proposal underlines how the United States and Iraq are exploring what their relationship might look like once the U.S. significantly draws down its troop presence. It comes as a Democratic Congress — unsuccessfully, so far — prods Bush to withdraw troops faster than he wants.





Bush and al-Maliki signed the new U.S.-Iraq "declaration of principles" during a secure video conference Monday morning.





Al-Maliki, in a televised address, said his government would ask the United Nations to renew the mandate for the multinational force for one final time with its authorization to end in 2008.





The U.S.-Iraq agreement will replace the present U.N. mandate regulating the presence of the U.S.-led forces in Iraq. Al-Maliki said the agreement provides for U.S. support for the "democratic regime in Iraq against domestic and external dangers."





It also would help the Iraqi government thwart any attempt to suspend or repeal a constitution drafted with U.S. help and adopted in a nationwide vote in 2005. That appeared to be a reference to any attempt to remove the government by violence or in a coup.





Al-Maliki said the renewal of the multinational forces' mandate was conditional on the repeal of what he called restrictions on Iraqi sovereignty introduced in 1990 by the U.N. Security Council to punish Iraq for invading neighboring Kuwait.





The new agreement would not signal an end to the U.S. mission here. But it could change the rules under which U.S. soldiers operate and give the Iraqis a greater role in determining their mission.





Two Republican senators said that unless Baghdad makes more political progress by January, the U.S. should consider withdrawing financial aid or political support from al-Maliki.





The warnings, coming from Sens. Lindsey Graham and Saxby Chambliss, were an indication that while GOP patience on the war has increased this fall because of security gains made by the military, it isn't bottomless.





"I do expect them to deliver," Graham, R-S.C., said in a phone interview. "What would happen for me if there's no progress on reconciliation after the first of the year, I would be looking at ways to invest our money into groups that can deliver."

Has a deal been cut with Iraq??
No. A deal has been presented to Iraq. One that best serves the interests of Saudi Arabia and the God and Greed Coalition.





You can't rightly say a deal has been cut, because the Maliki Government wasn't exactly given a significant opportunity for input. Last I heard Maliki was saying, "Get the F--k out. We can take it from here.
Reply:Yes, Iraq is now officially a U.S protectorate.
Reply:The way I see it, the tax payers'money goes into the Iraq war, the profits/benefits go to a few oil corporations coffers.This should be the sting of all stings and should be aptly called the "OIL STING". I wonder how much Robin Hood Bush and his merry band benefitted from the Iraqi war?
Reply:No, But President Bush cut the cheese in Iraq during his last visit, then blamed it on the media.
Reply:George W. Bush has just sold America for the next generation. A permanent or long term U.S. presence in Iraq will cost trillions of dollars.





That 9 trillion dollar deficit is going to look really small when it is said and done.
Reply:Does any of this come as a surprise to anyone..........