Iraq Status of Forces Agreement - before Iraq's Parliament is through with it

The status of forces of agreement between the United States and Iraq is now called the withdrawal agreement, and that's exactly what it is: an ultimate end to the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq.

If Iraq's parliament endorses the agreement, in six weeks American forces would have to change the way they operate in Iraq, and all U.S. combat troops, police trainers and military advisers would have to leave the country by Dec. 31, 2011. President-elect Barack Obama's campaign plan to leave a residual force of some 30,000 American troops in Iraq would be impossible under the pact.

Unless the agreement is amended, which would require the formal written approval of both sides, in three years there no longer would be any legal basis for U.S. armed forces or civilian contractors of the Department of Defense to remain in Iraq.

	Under Iraq troop pact, U.S. can't leave any forces behind	mcclatchydc.com	Wed Nov 19	14
	Gates, Rice defend US-Iraq security agreement	Associated Press	Wed Nov 19	4
	Why the U.S. blinked on its troop agreement with Iraq	mcclatchydc.com	Thu Nov 20	21
	Experts: SOFA Faces Legal Uncertainty	t r u t h o u t	Wed Nov 19	0
	US contractors lose immunity in Iraq security deal	Associated Press	Thu Nov 20	6