The U.S.-Iraq security agreement sails into troubled waters

as well it should... look at what the u.s. is asking for... no wonder the iraqis are pissed off (see my post from saturday)... it's even uniting the sunnis and the shiites in a common cause...

juan cole...

Al-Hayat reports in Arabic that both Sunni and Shiite Iraqis have united to reject the draft of a security agreement proposed by the United States. A high-level Iraqi source told the pan-Arab London daily that one point of dispute is that the US wants its troops to have complete freedom of movement in the country, whereas the Iraqis want it to be limited. The Americans are said to be seeking to retain the right to dominate Iraqi air space up to 29,000 feet, and to gain open access to the land, air and water of Iraq. The US wants to retain the right to arrest and detain any Iraqi whom the US believes represents a security threat. Washington desires the right to launch military operations to chase terrorists without seeking Iraqi government permission. The US wants immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts for American troops, contractors and corporations in Iraq.

The US also wants to retain the right to define terrorism against Iraq. It does not want to give any undertaking that it will defend Iraq from any outside attack unless it is convinced about the nature of that attack. Likewise it is not offering to safeguard the democratic regime in Iraq [emphasis added].

Iraqis for their part are demanding a recognition of Iraqi sovereignty.

geeeeez... can you even IMAGINE another country trying to impose these conditions on the u.s...? yeah, right... in your dreams...

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