Interesting, confirmation of Election Law vote and discussion on short term agreement not subject to parliament approval.

Iraq wants short-term US agreement on troops



By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and SEBASTIAN ABBOT – 2 hours ago
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's prime minister said Monday his country is now
proposing an interim deal with the United States on the presence of
American troops instead of a more formal agreement — and wants to
include a timetable for a U.S. withdrawal.Some type of agreement
is needed to keep U.S. troops in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires at
year's end. But many Iraqi lawmakers had criticized the government's
attempt to negotiate a formal status of forces agreement, worried that
U.S. demands would threaten the country's sovereignty.Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the memorandum "now on the table"
includes a formula for the withdrawal of U.S. troops — an idea opposed
by President Bush."The goal is to end the presence (of foreign
troops)," al-Maliki told several Arab ambassadors to the United Arab
Emirates during a meeting in Abu Dhabi.The prime minister
provided no details. But his national security adviser, Mouwaffak
al-Rubaie, told The Associated Press that the government is proposing a
timetable conditioned on the ability of Iraqi forces to provide
security.U.S. officials have said little publicly about the
negotiations. Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, did not comment directly on the specifics when asked about it on
a trip to Baghdad."We'd all like to see U.S. troops get out of
here at some point in time," Mullen said. "However, from a military
perspective I need the laws and the regulations and the agreements from
the government of Iraq in order to continue operations beyond the 31st
of December of this year."With the latest moves, Iraq's government appeared to be trying to blunt opposition in parliament to any deal.Al-Maliki
also could be trying to avoid parliament altogether. He has promised in
the past to submit a formal agreement with the U.S. to the legislative
body.But his spokesman indicated Monday that the government
might feel no need to get approval from parliament for a shorter-term
interim deal."It is up to the Cabinet whether to approve it or
sign on it, without going back to the parliament," said spokesman Ali
al-Dabbagh.Legal experts said the form of the deal was less significant than its substance."You
could theoretically include everything in a memorandum of understanding
that you could in a formal status of forces agreement," said Michael
Matheson, an expert on international law at George Washington
University Law School.The Bush administration has said it
doesn't need congressional approval even for a full status of forces
agreement — a position criticized by some U.S. lawmakers.The
contentious issues have been U.S. authority to carry out military
operations in Iraq and arrest the country's citizens, along with legal
immunity for private contractors and control of Iraqi air space.Iraqi
Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said last week after a visit to
Washington that the U.S. had agreed to drop immunity for private
contractors and give up control of Iraqi air space if Iraq guaranteed
it could protect the country's skies.But those concessions,
never confirmed by the U.S. side, were apparently not enough to cement
a formal agreement, leading Iraq instead to pursue the memorandum.Al-Maliki said the memorandum would not ignore the thorny issues that held up a more formal deal."The memorandum tackles troop movement and presence, respect of sovereignty, direct arrests and direct immunity," he said.Iraq's government has felt increasingly confident in recent weeks about its authority and the country's improved stability.Parliament
said Monday it would vote July 15 whether to approve provincial
elections originally scheduled for Oct. 1. But a senior election
official said it was impossible to hold the elections on schedule. If
the vote is to be held before the end of the year, parliament must
approve the elections by the end of July, said Judge Qassim al-Aboudi.Violence
in Iraq has fallen to its lowest level in four years. The change has
been driven by the 2007 buildup of American forces, the Sunni tribal
revolt against al-Qaida in Iraq and crackdowns against Shiite militias
and Sunni extremists.Despite the gains, frequent attacks continue.A
roadside bomb killed four people and injured three others Monday close
to the Iranian border near Khanaqin, 90 miles northeast of Baghdad,
said border guard Capt. Sarchel Abdul-Karim.Another bomb near a
dress shop in Baqouba killed one woman Monday and wounded 14 other
people, police said. Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, and the
surrounding Diyala province remain one of the country's most violent
regions.Also Monday, gunmen killed a member of the Sunni Iraqi
Islamic Party in Tal Afar, 260 miles northwest of Baghdad, said police,
speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to
talk to the media.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkx-3oYeFwuWKCusr2jrojs98w8wD91P5VC80

great news Adster- thank you

Excellent...way to go Maliki...avoid parliament ...can finally get it done ...thanks Adster..great news!!!!..

Good post there Adster.