U.S. and Iraq Work Out Troop Pullback Deal

I really like this agreement that the U.S. and Iraq has settled on regarding pull back and withdrawl of U.S. forces from Iraq. What I like about it is that it involves a pullback from Iraqi cities by June of 2009 of U.S. troops who would then go to outlying bases in the country. In other words, the cities would be turned over to the Iraqis and if something really bad happened, you have American troops nearby on bases that could react. Here's some of the details from the report at Breitbart:

Iraqi and U.S. negotiators have completed a draft security agreement that would see American troops leave Iraqi cities as soon as June 30, Iraqi and American officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
In Washington, a senior military official said the deal is acceptable to the U.S. side, subject to formal approval by President Bush. It also requires final acceptance by Iraqi leaders, and some members of Iraq's Cabinet oppose some provisions.
Also completed is a companion draft document, known as a strategic framework agreement, spelling out in broad terms the political, security and economic relationships between Iraq and the United States, the senior military official said. The official discussed the draft accords on condition that he not be identified by name because the deals have not been publicly announced and are not final.
In addition to spelling out that U.S. troops would move out of Iraqi cities by next summer, the Iraqi government has pushed for a specific date—most likely the end of 2011—by which all U.S. forces would depart the country.

So, what is ideal about this is that al Qaeda in Iraq and others eyeing the spoils of this War, won't see U.S. troops gone from the country for some time - it will be a long deterrent to them. The agreement also speaks to withdrawl of U.S. troops from Iraq by 2011 but I think by then it will be well under control and we certainly will see the Iraqi government operating much better.

I think this is a great balancing act for the U.S. in that they quell some of the desires of Iraqis for Americans to leave and yet, do not abandon the country before it is ready and, the agreement does not give the terrorists or Iran a date in the near future that they can target.

It may not be perfect but I think it's a helluva compromise.

Officials: Deal calls for troop pullback in Iraq

U.S. officials have resisted committing firmly to a specific date for a final pullout, insisting that it would be wiser to set a target linked to the attainment of certain agreed-upon goals. These goals would reflect not only security improvements but also progress on the political and economic fronts.
It was not clear Wednesday how that has been settled in the draft security accord, which the two governments are referring to as a memorandum of understanding. The draft agreement must be approved by the Iraqi parliament, which is in recess until early next month.
The senior U.S. military official said the draft is consistent with U.S. objectives, which include setting a "time horizon" rather than a firm date for the future withdrawal of American forces.
In Washington, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said talks with the Iraqis were ongoing and "we are trying to bring the agreement to a close. It is not done yet."
An Iraqi official who was involved in the protracted negotiations said the latest draft was completed last week and sent to the two governments.
The official said a compromise had been worked out on the contentious issue of whether to provide U.S. troops immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law, but he did not give details. In Washington, the senior military official said the draft agreement reflects the U.S. position that the United States must retain exclusive legal jurisdiction over its troops in Iraq.
While Iraqi negotiators signed off on the draft, another official close to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the country's political leadership objected to parts of the text, including the immunity provision.
"There are different points of view," he said. "We have given ours. The other side has given theirs."
He would not elaborate and spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
A third senior Iraqi official said al-Maliki himself had gone through the text personally and made notes with objections to some undisclosed points. He also spoke on condition of anonymity.
The security deal is to govern the status of the more than 140,000-strong U.S. military force after the U.N. Security Council mandate for its mission expires at the end of this year.