Roads to Iraq

Leaked by Awan, twenty pages of the last U.S. – Iraq SOFA agreement draft, no time to translate the whole document, I will try and do my best to highlight some important points.

The right side text of the document is the agreement as suggested by the American side, left-side text the Iraqi government remarks and corrections, far left is the U.S. ambassador remarks.

The following colour-codes were used in the document [in some parts the Iraqi remarks asked to remove the green lines, so the colour-codes are not accurate]:

Green: Generally accepted and agreed upon.

Yellow: Not agreed upon yet.

Red: Major differences.

As the newspaper pointed out, the U.S. guarantees of not using the Iraqi soil [military bases] to attack neighboring countries are not included.

Field and Purpose

This agreement identifies the rules and the basic provisions that organize the presence of the U.S. forces in Iraq, and the agreed upon activities of these forces in Iraq.

Also, it identifies the rules and the basic provisions of certain situations explained in this agreement, of contractors and employees working for the U.S. on the Iraqi soil.

These activities agreed upon includes: Operations and trainings, transit, support and related activities, Aerial refueling, maintenance of vehicles, ships and airplanes, providing suitable residents for the employees and their work-places, mobilizing forces and materials storage, and other goals and activities will be agreed upon.

The desire of the U.S. and Iraq that these authorizations in the attachments to be temporary. Both sides decide that this agreement and the attachments included will support the existence of security and defense relation between them after the end of the transitional period in Iraq and peace will exists with it. This will not include the attachments with the agreement.

Remark

- Postponed for now ’till later development.

- Green colour lines to be removed.

- Adding a point explains the purpose of the agreement, and prevents [military] operation outside the borders.

One point is very interesting:

Detained members of the [American] forces and civilian elements [contractors, employees] arrested by the Iraqi forces to be delivered to the American forces.

Remark

[long remark, but this is the important part] The Iraqi government authorizes the civilian-elements to use force against others in case of self-defense. As results, there will be no issue of juridical prosecutions.

Another point, Iraqi negotiator asked to be removed is the following:

Both sides agree that Iraq will not invite a third country or an international organization for logistic-support, training or support the Iraqi security forces.

Remark

This paragraph to be removed

One more, the Iraqi side demands to add this point, the American ambassador added his comment also.

Both sides seek regular consultation, on the political and military level to discus defense and security cooperation. These discussions can include these issues:

Develop the Iraqi capabilities to secure it’s own borders. Training, supplying, establishment and developing the logistic and the administration of the Iraqi security forces infrastructures.

Strengthening the joint effort of these forces, to improve the military cooperation and joint training, exchange expertise and academics, exchange information and other military activities.

Remark

Green line to be removed, and change to “will consult”, …

American ambassador comment

This executive agreement is under the president’s authorization, any pledge involves using forces and spending American money requires an agreement authorized by the congress. In the current U.S. internal political situation, the congress unlikely will agree with this, but the executive agreement will establish a suitable situation that can be developed in the future.

Notice that the first paragraph does not apply on the ground, the agreement must be signed signed between countries with equal sovereignties and this si not the case in of the relationship between Iraq and U.S., and this is an agreement between and occupied country and an occupation power. The agreement terms will be dictated by force if necessary.

Also, notice the part where the U.S. ambassador trying to prevent the authorization of the American congress, there is no mention of the authorization of the Iraqi parliament in the document.