Negotiations on US troup withdrawal from Iraq faltering

Middle East News

Sep 5, 2008, 8:41 GMT

Baghdad (spa) - Negotiations on a security agreement between Iraq and the United States regarding the future presence of US troops have been put on hold, the news agency Aswat al-Iraq reported Friday. The agency quoted Vice President Tarek al-Hashimi, who said talks had been stopped 'for a while.' There still were serious differences, al-Hashimi said during a visit to the Baghdad Sunni suburb of Adhamija on Thursday night. The negotiations are aimed at setting the conditions for the future presence of US troops in Iraq after the UN mandate expires at the end of this year. Iraqi newspapers reported earlier that the withdrawal date was no longer controversial but the question of immunity for US soldiers was now the main issue. The US government is opposed to the idea that its soldiers should account to local courts for crimes committed in Iraq. Currently, these soldiers are tried by military courts in the US. Meanwhile, the news agency Burathanews reported that the British government intended to open separate talks with Baghdad on the future of British soldiers in Iraq. This would only be the case if a continued presence of British troops in the south of Iraq is deemed necessary when the UN mandate expires, the report added.

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SP4: oh god! we're in trouble now!Sep 5th, 2008 - 22:29:15

...what WILL we do!?

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GooseSep 6th, 2008 - 08:24:04

Its all good...

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SP4: let me see if I understand this correctlySep 6th, 2008 - 15:21:32

...we occupy Iraq...right?

...we are feigning a 'negotiation' on leaving, as if we really needed to negotiate...that's essentially the fact, correct?

...the Iraqi's, who essentially, have NO bargaining position, are holding up the negotiations...right?

...and these 'negotiations' in danger of 'faltering'?

Have you ever read anything so absurd????? Whats next: cow tipping?

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margeSep 7th, 2008 - 04:11:57

The US is saying to the Iraqi gov't. that the ' GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD' for US troops is an ongoing requirement for the US occupation to continue. Hope Iraq says no thanks to the continued occupation of their country and demands the US vacate immediately!!!!

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SP4: Keep HopingSep 7th, 2008 - 21:39:31

..Marge.

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Old NewsSep 9th, 2008 - 00:34:15

This artical is 3 days old. Why is it the headline as the Bush admin is pulling troopers out today? 8000 to leave...

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WOWSep 9th, 2008 - 16:15:22

doesn't that get it back to the number before the surge? Let's keep going.

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