Bush Expresses Confidence on U.S.-Iraq Troops Pact

29 October 2008 By David McKeeby Staff Writer

Negotiations reflect political progress in Baghdad

Washington — President Bush says he remains confident that a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) defining the future U.S. military presence in Iraq will be passed, while policymakers see Baghdad’s proposed changes to the plan as a further sign of political progress in Iraq.

“We’re analyzing those amendments,” Bush said as he welcomed the president of Iraq’s northern Kurdish government, Massoud Barzani, to the White House October 29. “I remain very hopeful and confident that the SOFA will get passed.”    

Since 2003, U.S.-led coalition forces have operated in Iraq under a U.N. Security Council resolution that expires at the end of 2008.  Under the pending agreement, U.S. troops could remain in Iraq for three years after the U.N. mandate expires. U.S. officials say that without the accord, all coalition-led military operations would cease in Iraq. 

The Iraqi Cabinet authorized Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to reopen talks on the agreement, which has been under close scrutiny in Baghdad over the past several weeks.  Media reports indicate the Iraqis are seeking four changes to strengthen their control of activities undertaken by U.S. forces, including a controversial stipulation that would allow local authorities to prosecute U.S. military personnel for crimes committed outside of military bases.

Another amendment would prevent the U.S. forces from launching cross-border operations, according to the Iraqi national security adviser and lead SOFA negotiator, Mowaffak al-Rubaie, referencing an October 26 raid targeting Abu Ghadiyah — a top al-Qaida in Iraq operative who operates a network that smuggles foreign fighters into Iraq from neighboring Syria.  Bush administration officials have refused to confirm or deny responsibility for the operation.   

In stepping out from under the U.N.’s protective umbrella to seek a new arrangement with coalition forces, Iraq seeks to take another step forward, says U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker.

“In terms of U.S. and coalition military presence, clearly there is going to be a need for that beyond the end of the year,” Crocker said in a June 5 State Department briefing.

Widespread debate across the Iraqi political spectrum on the Status of Forces Agreement shows how far Iraq has come in recent months, Crocker said. “The more Iraqis are able to do in terms of their own security, the less requirement there is for outside support. That’s what Iraqis want, and that’s what we want.”

While the current draft previously was viewed as a “final offer,” the United States will review the new proposals, says State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.   

"The bar to any revisions is very high," McCormack told reporters October 29. “All of that said, this is a serious negotiation process on a serious issue and we will take seriously any comments from the Iraqis. We will do a thoughtful, thorough review of them and then provide them a response.”

But time is of the essence, warns Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell, who expressed concern about renewed violence if an agreement is not reached by the end of the year. 

“Gains that have been made will start to unravel, potentially, because we don’t have a legal mandate to operate,” Morrell told reporters October 29. 

While the United States has concluded similar agreements with 78 other countries, including Germany, Japan and several of Iraq’s Gulf neighbors, America’s commitment to supporting the Iraqi people as they build a democracy will make it more than a military-to-military relationship, say officials.

“We also intend for [the Status of Forces Agreement] to set the broad parameters of the overall bilateral relationship in every field: political, diplomatic, economic, cultural, the whole totality of the relationship,” Crocker said.

Iraqis Assume Security Responsibilites in WASIT

Meanwhile, the U.S. military handed over security control of the southern Iraqi province of Wasit to Iraqi authorities. The transfer follows the return of nearby Babil province and makes Wasit the 13th of Iraq’s 18 provinces to return to full Iraqi government control. U.S. forces will withdraw to their bases and participate in security operations only at the request of the provincial governor.

At a transfer ceremony in the provincial capital, Kut, U.S. Army Lieutenant General Lloyd Austin, second in command of U.S. forces in Iraq, said Wasit once was a route for "enemies to move weapons … to attack Iraqi and coalition forces. … Now the province frequently has reached zero attacks, largely due to high levels of cooperation between all security units."  

“We have waited a long time for this moment and after huge efforts and sacrifices from our forces,” said Wasit regional Governor Latif Hamid al Tarfa. “We have restored security and we are proud.”

A transcript of Bush and Barzani’s remarks is available from America.gov.