No security agreement signing before the U.S. election
Contradicting each others, both links refer their information to a “well-informed” source, Al-Hayat reported today the following:
Well-informed told the newspaper that the Iraqi government determined to sign the security agreement and approved by the Presidential Council in a matter of few days… As for the immunity of the U.S. troops, the context will not be modified, because the duration of the agreement expires at the end of 2011.
While Al-Malaf Press report gives very different information:
Well-informed sources told the news site that the security agreement with the United States may continue after the U.S. presidential elections in next November, despite the concessions offered by the American side announced by Al-Maliki during his visit to Sistani last Friday.
From the same above link the “source” gives us a very good update on the development of the disputed points:
About the final date for the U.S. forces withdrawal, the American-side agreed on the 30 Dec 2001adding this line to the draft agreement:
If the Iraqi government did not asks to extend [the presence].
Maliki demanded the removal of this line, to prevent any delay or complexity to the full withdrawal deadline.
Another article concerning the withdrawal of U.S. forces from cities to their military bases by June next year, in which the text also says:
If their presence [the U.S. forces] unneeded.
This line is also rejected Al-Maliki, according to sources.
The reason to believe the Al-Malaf Press link is that after his visit to Sistani, Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Watan reported the following:
According to unconfirmed sources, Sistani is unenthusiastic about the deal [SOFA], which makes the Maliki’s position very critical, especially the Supreme Council’s objections.
Maliki’s troubles with his allies and foes are not finished yet, and he do not want to risk his future and his party;s future with signing the security agreement before the U.S. election and he bargains on the next U.S. administration to get a better deal.
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