Seems like the pressure is on to get the US on a leash in Iraq -- pressure this time not from political opposition in the US, but from outside the US.
Iraq and the United States agreed Monday that the U.N.-mandated occupation of Iraq will end in December 2008 and that any U.S. troop presence in the country after that time will be subject to U.S.-Iraq negotiations that are to be completed by next summer.
The agreement likely will be seen as a victory for Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki, who's been pressing for an end to U.S. supervision of Iraq. In a nationally televised speech, Maliki said the agreement "ends the presence of international troops" in Iraq.
"This is the target we all seek," he said.
In Washington, a spokesman for the National Security Council said that U.S. officials were confident that an agreement would be reached that would continue a U.S. presence in Iraq. "I'm confident the bilateral agreements will be established next year," said NSC spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
But the agreement, which Maliki and President Bush signed during a teleconference, also could impose some limits on how U.S. commanders could use those troops.
And let's keep an eye on how exploitation of Iraq's resources is handled. At least al Maliki -- a scoundrel, but no more so than Bush -- appears to be taking charge here, as he should.
The agreement calls for a final, one-year extension of the U.N. mandate, which is to expire this December.
After that, the U.S. troop presence would be set in negotiations to be completed by July 31 — about the same time that five combat brigades sent to Iraq under the Bush administration's "surge" are expected to have been withdrawn.
As for the "economic sphere," here's the relevant portion of the Declaration of Principles. See what you think.
1. Supporting Iraq's development in various economic fields, including its productive capabilities, and aiding its transition to a market economy.
2. Encouraging all parties to abide by their commitments as stipulated in the International Compact with Iraq.
3. Supporting the building of Iraq's economic institutions and infrastructure with the provision of financial and technical assistance to train and develop competencies and capacities of vital Iraqi institutions.
4. Supporting Iraq's further integration into regional and international financial and economic organizations.
5. Facilitating and encouraging the flow of foreign investments to Iraq, especially American investments, to contribute to the reconstruction and rebuilding of Iraq.
6. Assisting Iraq in recovering illegally exported funds and properties, especially those smuggled by the family of Saddam Hussein and his regime's associates, as well as antiquities and items of cultural heritage, smuggled before and after April 9, 2003.
7. Helping the Republic of Iraq to obtain forgiveness of its debts and compensation for the wars waged by the former regime.
8. Supporting the Republic of Iraq to obtain positive and preferential trading conditions for Iraq within the global marketplace including accession to the World Trade Organization and most favored nation status with the United States.
Alongside the Declaration, the White House has posted a "Fact Sheet" summarizing the agreement. Here are the economic "facts":
- Economic: Both countries have agreed to support the development of Iraqi economic institutions and further integration into international financial institutions, to encourage all parties to abide by their commitments made in the International Compact with Iraq, to assist Iraq in its efforts to recover illegally exported funds and properties and to secure debt relief, and to encourage the flow of foreign investments to Iraq.
As someone who doesn't trust members of this administration to pee straight into the bowl, I'm apt to insert little caveats after each phrase of the agreement. "Further integration into international financial institutions"? Hmmm... As for "encourage the flow of foreign investments...".... well...
But I do see al Maliki either a) mysteriously "disappeared," or b) new director on the board of Exxon Mobil. Something like that.
Who's pulling the strings here? The US or Iraq?
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