Political first: Sofa will be presented to parliament before the government's approval

[Adster]

السياسية الاولى : صوفا ستعرض على البرلمان قبل مصادقة الحكومة Political first: Sofa will be presented to parliament before the government's approval




المالكي إلى أستراليا قريبا وتوقعات بزيارة رايس لبغداد الأسبوع المقبل Maliki to Australia soon, and expectations of Rice visit to Baghdad next week
بغداد - الصباح BAGHDAD - morning
غير العراق خط سير مناقشة الاتفاقية الامنية المزمع توقيعها مع الولايات المتحدة، حيث ستبحث "صوفا" في البرلمان قبل مصادقة الحكومة. However, the itinerary discuss Iraq security agreement to be signed with the United States, where would "Sofa" in Parliament before ratification by the government. وتتزامن هذه التغييرات التي تهدف الى خلق حالة اجماع تجاه التفاهم These changes coincide aimed at creating a situation towards a consensus understanding


No security or both accepted, with the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to Australia and will visit expectations and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Baghdad to finalize the treaty. MP Mohammed Naji al-Samarrai, the "morning" for a political agreement to discuss security agreement in parliament To make recommendations to the government, pointing out that Mr. Maliki's visit to the religious authority in Najaf was important in this regard, especially that last option left to the House of Representatives. Briefed the Prime Minister, the religious leader Ali Sistani last week, the developments of the negotiations on the draft agreement with the U.S. security Nations, stressed the importance of Mr. Sistani suggested to the parliament. واكد السامرائي ان الايام المقبلة ستشهد ارسال مسودة "صوفا" الى البرلمان، لمناقشتها والتوصل الى راي وطني واحد تجاهها. Samarrai said that the coming days will send a draft of "Sofa" to the parliament for discussion and a Ray single national policy. وفي اطار مشابه، شدد كل من رئيس

In a similar framework, he stressed both President Jalal Talabani and U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and advisor to U.S. Secretary of State David Satterfield on the strategic importance of the Convention, putting them at a meeting yesterday. The senior U.S. official announced on Saturday, Washington agrees to the dates set by the government For the withdrawal of its troops from the country. The two sides said in a statement received "morning," said a copy of the treaty should ensure the national sovereignty of Iraq and contribute to the deepening of relations between the two sides at all levels.

On the other hand, the prime minister begin in the next few days official visit to the Australian capital Canberra To hold talks with Australian officials on the development of relations between the two countries, according to press sources said. Sources: Maliki will discuss with the Canberra strengthen economic and trade cooperation and contribution of Australian companies in the reconstruction of Iraq, indicating that an official delegation includes Prime Minister will be accompanied by a number of ministers, including Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and Trade Minister Abdel Falah Sudan. Parallel official familiar sign that the U.S. Secretary of State and a quick visit to Baghdad unannounced to put the final touches on the security agreement.

The official said in a telephone conversation with the "morning," said Condoleezza Rice had raised new ideas Government, in terms of points immunity, which is currently the only item still outstanding between Baghdad and Washington, noting there are some technical matters that have not yet been resolved, available, saying: "It is not a major obstacle to the signing of the treaty."

[williambedloe]

I cringe when I see that it is going to Parliament for "discussion"...I hope one radical doesn't decide to hold this up for months as well. Remember, Obama was trying to negotiate a delay on this agreement while he was there (a crime, but that's another matter)...this needs to be done asap...one more step to sovereignty...come Iraq...move your arses!!!!!

[Adster]

I cringe when I see that it is going to Parliament for "discussion"...I hope one radical doesn't decide to hold this up for months as well. Remember, Obama was trying to negotiate a delay on this agreement while he was there (a crime, but that's another matter)...this needs to be done asap...one more step to sovereignty...come Iraq...move your arses!!!!!

Agreed wills, am hoping this will be done before your elections.

[copper13]

Its time to play ball!!!!!!

[Shau - Kenshin]

Agreed wills, am hoping this will be done before your elections.

The last article that the "main man" Addy posted showed that with this done .. ART VII would be abolished. Now can this deal get any sweeter for them, and for us?



All they have to do at this point is NOT take it to parliment. I see parliment as the stinkin black hole that good things go to get lost in... kind of like UPN as far as american televison... where good shows go to die.

All I wanna know is WHEN will this be set infront of parliment, can they do it by clocher vote or do we have to wait for this thing to go around the world.

Also ... anybody know what the hell is going on with the G20?! I cant find ANYthing on this...

[copper13]

Bump......

[Shau - Kenshin]

Bump......

I see your bump ... and raise you ....

Bumpity BUMP!!

[copper13]

This seems to be the latest news on the SOFA???? I'm surprised that there isn't more responses????

[copper13]

Oct 13th 2008

Maliki’s interview with the Times shifted all the attentions away from this report published on the Green Zone newspaper Al-Sabaah. The “not very” interesting part is that Condoleezza Rice will visit Iraq in the coming days to put the “final touches” on SOFA agreement.

The interesting part is that SOFA’s Iraqi process is changed.

Maliki’s government turned the political procedures around, instead of passing the final document to the Presidential Council to approve the final document and then passing it to the parliament, a political decision issued today that the parliament should approves the final document before passing it to the Presidential Council.

What this change means?

By default, the approval of the Presidential Council means that the final document id valid and passing it to the parliament is a symbolic procedures.

Turning this process around means more delay since the parliament is divided on SOFA’s approval and that can takes months before the parl. Members can reach “something” and all that time SOFA is still on halt and invalid. This allows Maliki to buy more time.


http://www.roadstoiraq.com/2008/10/1...ocess-changed/


#@!$@#$^!#$^

[john j]

This seems to be the latest news on the SOFA???? I'm surprised that there isn't more responses????

untill they get the sofa signed and r/v its slow grow!!

[ricklibby]

maliki is hanging his self . the parlament and other miniister's are thinking of a no confidence vote already. he is just proving he has been bought by iran and listening to obama to stop progress. i hope he get's canned this time. maliki barely saved his job in feb.when he was on the way out. rick libby

[copper13]

Iraqi vice president predicts security accord with U.S. unlikely this year

October 13, 2008 4:45 PM

McClatchy Newspapers

BAGHDAD - Time's running out for reaching a security agreement with the United States, and an accord is unlikely before the end of this year, Iraq's Sunni Muslim vice president said Monday.

The United Nations mandate that authorizes the U.S. military presence in Iraq will expire on Dec. 31, and without a so-called status of forces agreement, it's questionable whether the U.S. will have a legitimate right to maintain its troops in Iraq, Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi told McClatchy Newspapers.

Hashimi also expressed strong concern that the improved security situation in Iraq could deteriorate just as the U.N. mandate runs out.

Hashimi's statement on the agreement contradicted more upbeat comments from Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte during a recent visit to Iraq and from Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari, who has said that a deal is close.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said in an interview with the London Times newspaper Monday that if there was no agreement and no renewal of the U.N. mandate, ''the U.S. forces will be confined to their bases and have to withdraw from Iraq.'' But he added that ''a sudden withdrawal may harm security.''

Susan Ziadeh, a U.S. Embassy spokeswoman, said the talks are still under way. ''Both sides are working hard to come to an agreement, and we should leave the discussions to those who are negotiating,'' she said.

However, Hashimi said that even if the two negotiating teams can agree on a final text, the draft must then win the approval of Iraq's cabinet, a special political council for national security and the parliament. ''I'm not sure that the time we have left is enough for all of these organizations to study it, revise it and agree on the text,'' he said.

The main point of contention is jurisdiction. Maliki has been pressing for jurisdiction to prosecute U.S. troops when they aren't on their bases, which the U.S. has so far refused to permit.

''The impression of the Iraqi people is that American troops from time to time exaggerate their reactions, use excessive force and irresponsible behavior,'' Hashimi said. ''We would like to put an end to that. When this happens in the future there must be prosecution of those who are exceeding the limit of the authorities given to them.''

The U.S. government has said that the mandate must be renewed if no agreement is reached, or U.S. forces will withdraw, Hashimi said. But it takes time to pull out more than 130,000 troops, presenting a new problem about who would have jurisdiction during a technically illegal occupation.

Hashimi also warned that the security situation could worsen by the end of 2008, due to upcoming provincial elections and an unsure future for U.S.-sponsored, mostly Sunni paramilitary groups

Among the signs of increased violence is that al-Qaida in Iraq, whose attacks dropped over the past year, is growing stronger as frustrations in the Sunni community fester, he said. That's mostly due to the Iraqi government's reluctance to absorb the more than 100,000-strong, U.S.-sponsored, mostly Sunni paramilitary into government jobs and the Iraqi Security Forces, he said.

Senior officials in the Shiite-led government seem to have a sectarian agenda as they deal with the embattled Sons of Iraq or Awakening councils, mostly former Sunni insurgents that are or were being paid by the U.S. military, he said. If it fails, sectarian violence will once again envelop Iraq.

''People are not tolerating that the Iraqi government is not rewarding those groups,'' he said. ''In fact, after all the sacrifices they have suffered, this is a really risky and highly dangerous attitude,'' he said.

There was a slight uptick in violence in September, and assassinations seem to be on the rise with weapons equipped with silencers and magnetic bombs attached to people's cars.

Hashimi cited violence in Mosul and a perceived targeting of Sunnis by Shiite-dominated security forces in Diyala and Basra as signs of changes for the worse. His party members in the southern city of Basra were being detained based on testimony by secret witnesses, and the judiciary system was sectarian, he said.

''We expect it will be a tough election this time,'' he said. ''We do have a problem. Iraq is not going to survive if we don't get rid of sectarian behavior.''

If the agreement between the two nations isn't completed by the end of the year and Iraq doesn't request a renewal of the mandate, Iraq may be faced with a hasty withdrawal of American troops.

''I have a lot of concern about the future,'' he said.

http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article...85221622858087

[copper13]

Iran bribing Iraqi lawmakers to oppose security pact: US

Published Date: October 14, 2008
BAGHDAD: Washington believes Iranian agents are bribing Iraqi lawmakers to oppose a security pact allowing US forces to stay beyond the end of this year, the US commander in Iraq has said. The accusation, made by General Ray Odierno who took over last month as US commander in Iraq, is one of the strongest Washington has yet leveled against its arch-foe Tehran over political meddling in Iraq, which Iran denies.

Odierno made the accusation in an interview with the Washington Post published on Monday. His spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel James Hutton, confirmed the remarks. "We know that there are many relationships with people here for many years going back to when Saddam was in charge, and I think they're utilizing those contacts to attempt to influence the outcome of the potential vote in the council of representatives," Odierno said, referring to Iraq's parliament. "We get reports of people coming in to pay off pe
ople to vote against it. Whether it's true or not I have no specific proof, but there are many intelligence reports that say that activity is going on.

The security pact between the United States and Iraq will allow the US forces, now around 146,000 troops, to stay on beyond the end of this year when a United Nations Security Council resolution expires. Washington and Baghdad have been working on the pact for months and both sides say it is close. But it has been delayed over politically sensitive issues such as dates on US troops withdrawal and whether they can be tried in Iraqi courts.

Iran says Washington is looking for a long-term foothold in the region, and Iranian officials have spoken out publicly against the pact. Many of Iraq's Shiite political parties, including that of Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, have ties with Tehran going back decades when their leaders sheltered in Iran from Saddam Hussein. The United States also accuses Iran of providing training and funds for Iraqi militia groups who attack US troops, and says they are planning violence ahead of regional elections in Ira
q. Iran denies that it meddles in Iraqi affairs or supports militia. - Reuters

http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news...AxMzI0Mjc1MQ==



I hate to ruin your thread Adster! Maybe a Smoke Scene????

[Dinarluvr]

I saw this on the Fox News ticker!! I hope it is just a smoke screen!

[MotorDown]

some officials saying 'almost done' others denying......smoke screens both ways.

[tew23]

Agreed wills, am hoping this will be done before your elections.

Won't happen. They will wait until the elections and a new president is IN OFFICE. They will get a better deal either way whoever wins the election obama or mccain. And the new president will get the credit. So what's three more months when they took this long? jmo

[dinar shore]

This seems to be the latest news on the SOFA???? I'm surprised that there isn't more responses????

Copper,
Same old b.s. from these idiots. If they send it to Parliament, it will enter into another black hole where even light can't escape. Time for Iraqi special ops to get someone's attention in Parliament. Start with a few more of the Iranian sympathizers that abound in Parliament. These deadbeats don't deserve prosperity!