US pledges long-term presence in Iraq
Monday November 26, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
The Bush administration today formally committed America to a long-term military presence in Iraq by entering into a strategic partnership with the authorities in Baghdad.
President George Bush and the Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, signed an agreement to begin negotiating on future military, economic and diplomatic cooperation during a video conference this morning, the White House said.
The declaration of principles, which is not binding, will set the agenda for a future American relationship with Iraq, Bush's coordinator on Iraq and Afghanistan, General Douglas Lute, told reporters at the White House today.
"The two negotiating teams, Iraq and the United States, now have a common sheet of music with which to begin the negotiations," Lute said.
He offered few details on the scale of the future US military commitment to Iraq in terms of troop levels or permanent US bases.
He noted that the agreement, because it was not a treaty, would not be subject to oversight by Congress.
"What we expect this to do is provide a bilateral mandate ... for the continued presence and mission of US troops," Lute said.
"What US troops are doing, how many troops are required to do that, are bases required, which partners will join them, all these things are on the table."
The Associated Press reported from Baghdad that the proposal would give America preferential treatment for investments in Iraq - a potential bonanza for oil companies - in return for long-term security guarantees, including defense against internal coups.
