One Utah

President Bush, May 1, 2007 (emphasis added):

It makes no sense to tell the enemy when you plan to start withdrawing. All the terrorists would have to do is mark their calendars and gather their strength — and begin plotting how to overthrow the government and take control of the country of Iraq. I believe setting a deadline for withdrawal would demoralize the Iraqi people, would encourage killers across the broader Middle East, and send a signal that America will not keep its commitments. Setting a deadline for withdrawal is setting a date for failure — and that would be irresponsible.

Now the Iraqis are on the verge of doing what the Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress couldn’t do. McClatchey has the unofficial translation of the treaty that’s now before the Iraqi parliament. Excerpt (emphasis added):

Article 24

Withdrawal of American Forces from Iraq

[...]

All U.S. forces are to withdraw from all Iraqi territory, water and airspace no later than the 31st of December of 2011.

All U.S. combat forces are to withdraw from Iraqi cities, villages, and towns not later than the date that Iraqi forces assume complete responsibility of security in any Iraqi province. The withdrawal of U.S. forces from the above-mentioned places is on a date no later than the 30 June 2009.

…The United States admits to the sovereign right of the Iraqi government to demand the departure of the U.S. forces from Iraq at anytime. The Iraqi government admits to the sovereign right of the United States to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq at anytime.

[...]

Iraqis have never referred to the treaty as a Status of Forces Agreement, the Arabic version is called the “Withdrawal Accord.”

“Surge” architect Fred Kagan hailed the treaty as “a great accomplishment for us.” White House Press Secretary Dana Perino says we should “celebrate the victory” President Bush has achieved.

On HuffPo, Chris Weigant suggests that we should not be waiting for the right wing to denounce Bush for caving in to terrorists and surrendering in the face of the enemy. Their hypocrisy isn’t a bug, it’s a feature!

UPDATE: Politicians refuse to call this deal a “treaty” because that would require a two-thirds supermajority in the Iraqi parliament and approval by the U.S. Senate. However, yesterday American constitutional law scholar Oona Hathaway told a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee that just calling it a “status of forces agreement” does not make it one.

This entry was posted Thursday, November 20th, 2008 at 11:27 am and is filed under Disaster, George W. Bush, Iraq, National Politics, This Blog, War. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.