US-Iraqi Deal Hits Roadblock

[BigRob]

The draft also calls for U.S. troops to be out of Iraqi cities by July 30, 2009, and out of the country entirely by December 31, 2011. The agreement allows for an earlier withdrawal or an extension of the U.S. forces' stay in Iraq, by agreement of both parties.

It also allows the Iraqi government to "request from the United States government to leave certain forces for training and for support purposes for the Iraqi forces."

The governments have been trying to get a deal before December 31, when a U.N. mandate authorizing the U.S. troop presence in Iraq expires.

Iraq's ruling Shiite parliamentary bloc said Sunday it needs more time before it can approve the draft.

The United Iraqi Alliance bloc found several "points" in the draft that "need more time for discussion, dialogue and amendments [to] some of its articles," according to the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq, the most powerful party in the bloc.

It was unclear what specific "points" the parliamentary bloc was questioning.

It appears Al-Sadr is playing his hand in this as well. It is important to get this figured out before the UN mandate expires however.