The original Status of Forces agreement the Bush Administration tried to impose on the Iraqi government severely infringed on Iraqi sovereignty by allowing the United States to carry out any military operation deemed necessary. This SOF agreement also lacked any provisions for a withdrawal from Iraq.
The Obama administration and PM Maliki, who has recently reconsolidated major internal political support, have replaced the old SOFA, so to speak, to remove infringements on Iraqi sovereignty and agreed that US combat troops would begin phasing out of combat operations, until eventually shedding that role entirely and withdrawing (tentatively by 2011).
Cole highlights a few reasons for an orderly and timely withdrawal from Iraq: A possible warming in relations with Iran and the Arab world at large The debate among Iraqi politicians does not center on IF the Americans should leave, but HOW SOON. This reflects the larger public support for an American military withdrawal and just how thin Iraqis’ patience is wearing
Cole also points out a few issues that still need to be addressed: Continued ethnic cleansing conducted by the very militias originally created to combat the now crippled Al Qaeda presence in Iraq The issue of Krudish sovereignty and the possibility of Turkey, which has vehemently opposed a Kurdish state, is a NATO member, and has an active military that rivals Great Britain’s, being drawn into any possible conflict
Cole emphasizes that the possibility of Iraq becoming a Taliban-esque Fundamental Islamic state is a near impossibility at this point and would have none of the regional support that is proving so vital in reconstructing Iraq.
The Necessary Withdrawal
ReplyDeleteThe original Status of Forces agreement the Bush Administration tried to impose on the Iraqi government severely infringed on Iraqi sovereignty by allowing the United States to carry out any military operation deemed necessary. This SOF agreement also lacked any provisions for a withdrawal from Iraq.
The Obama administration and PM Maliki, who has recently reconsolidated major internal political support, have replaced the old SOFA, so to speak, to remove infringements on Iraqi sovereignty and agreed that US combat troops would begin phasing out of combat operations, until eventually shedding that role entirely and withdrawing (tentatively by 2011).
Cole highlights a few reasons for an orderly and timely withdrawal from Iraq:
A possible warming in relations with Iran and the Arab world at large
The debate among Iraqi politicians does not center on IF the Americans should leave, but HOW SOON. This reflects the larger public support for an American military withdrawal and just how thin Iraqis’ patience is wearing
Cole also points out a few issues that still need to be addressed:
Continued ethnic cleansing conducted by the very militias originally created to combat the now crippled Al Qaeda presence in Iraq
The issue of Krudish sovereignty and the possibility of Turkey, which has vehemently opposed a Kurdish state, is a NATO member, and has an active military that rivals Great Britain’s, being drawn into any possible conflict
Cole emphasizes that the possibility of Iraq becoming a Taliban-esque Fundamental Islamic state is a near impossibility at this point and would have none of the regional support that is proving so vital in reconstructing Iraq.