US: Time Running Out for Iraqi Security Pact Talks
By VOA News
30 October 2008
The United States says time is fast running out for talks on a security pact that will determine the future of U.S. troops in Iraq.
State Department spokesman Robert Wood Thursday described the draft security deal as "good." He refused to comment on Iraq's proposed changes to the draft until the U.S. has a chance to fully review them.
In related news, the president of Iraq's northern Kurdish government said he doubts the Iraqi Cabinet and parliament will approve the security pact.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Massoud Barzani said most political factions in Iraq want the accord to pass. But he said Iraqi politicians have come to believe they are unable to state their real positions for fear of appearing too close to the United States - and of hurting their standing in upcoming provincial elections.
On Wednesday, Mr. Barzani discussed the draft security pact with U.S. President George Bush at the White House. Mr. Bush said he is confident the accord will be passed before the United Nations mandate on U.S. troops in Iraq expires at the end of the year.
Iraq's proposed changes to the draft are said to include one that would ban U.S. forces from striking neighboring countries from Iraqi territory.
An Iraqi lawmaker today outlined several other points that he said were proposed to Washington, among them making sure there is no option for U.S. troops to remain in Iraq after 2011.
Ali al-Adib said the Iraqi government also wants to have a joint U.S.-Iraq committee decide which countries' courts would try a U.S. soldier who committed a crime in Iraq. The lawmaker added Baghdad is also seeking the right to inspect all goods coming into or leaving Iraq.
Under the current draft security pact, U.S. troops could remain in Iraq for three years, after their U.N. mandate expires on December 31. U.S. officials say without the accord, all U.S. military operations in Iraq will stop.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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