[NYTr] Bush Signs New "Deal" with Iraq "Govt" that Sees "Long-term US Presence"

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

[We'll see about that, Mr. Danger. The Iraqis might have other
ideas.-NYTr]


AP via Yahoo - Nov 26, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071126/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq

US, Iraq deal sees long-term US presence

By BEN FELLER
Associated Press Writer

President Bush on Monday signed a deal setting the foundation for a
potential long-term U.S. troop presence in Iraq, with details to be
negotiated over matters that have defined the war debate at home — how
many U.S. forces will stay in the country, and for how long.

The agreement between Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
confirms that the United States and Iraq will hash out an "enduring"
relationship in military, economic and political terms. Details of that
relationship will be negotiated in 2008, with a completion goal of
July, when the U.S. intends to finish withdrawing the five combat
brigades sent in 2007 as part of the troop buildup that has helped curb
sectarian violence.

"What U.S. troops are doing, how many troops are required to do that,
are bases required, which partners will join them — all these things
are on the negotiating table," said Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, President
Bush's adviser on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The proposal underlines how the United States and Iraq are exploring
what their relationship might look like once the U.S. significantly
draws down its troop presence. It comes as a Democratic Congress —
unsuccessfully, so far — prods Bush to withdraw troops faster than he
wants.

Bush and al-Maliki signed the new U.S.-Iraq "declaration of principles"
during a secure video conference Monday morning.

Al-Maliki, in a televised address, said his government would ask the
United Nations to renew the mandate for the multinational force for one
final time with its authorization to end in 2008.

The U.S.-Iraq agreement will replace the present U.N. mandate
regulating the presence of the U.S.-led forces in Iraq. Al-Maliki said
the agreement provides for U.S. support for the "democratic regime in
Iraq against domestic and external dangers."

It also would help the Iraqi government thwart any attempt to suspend
or repeal a constitution drafted with U.S. help and adopted in a
nationwide vote in 2005. That appeared to be a reference to any attempt
to remove the government by violence or in a coup.

Al-Maliki said the renewal of the multinational forces' mandate was
conditional on the repeal of what he called restrictions on Iraqi
sovereignty introduced in 1990 by the U.N. Security Council to punish
Iraq for invading neighboring Kuwait.

The new agreement would not signal an end to the U.S. mission here. But
it could change the rules under which U.S. soldiers operate and give
the Iraqis a greater role in determining their mission.

Two senior Iraqi officials familiar with the issue say Iraq's
government will embrace a long-term U.S. troop presence in return for
U.S. security guarantees as part of a strategic partnership. The two
officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the subject is
sensitive, said U.S. military and diplomatic representatives appeared
generally favorable, subject to negotiations on the details, which
include preferential treatment for American investments.

Preferential treatment for U.S. investors could provide a huge windfall
if Iraq can achieve enough stability to exploit its vast oil resources.
Such a deal would also enable the United States to maintain leverage
against Iranian expansion at a time of growing fears about Tehran's
nuclear aspirations.

The framework Bush approved outlines broad principles, such as that
both countries will support Iraq's economic institutions, and help its
government train Iraqi security forces to provide stability for all
Iraqis. Lute said "all major national leaders of the existing Iraqi
government" have committed to it.

"The basic message here should be clear: Iraq is increasingly able to
stand on its own; that's very good news, but it won't have to stand
alone," said Lute, who rarely holds televised briefings.

He said it is too soon to tell what the "shape and size" of the U.S.
military commitment will look like, including military bases.

The Iraqi officials said that under the proposed formula, Iraq would
get full responsibility for internal security and U.S. troops would
relocate to bases outside the cities. Iraqi officials foresee a
long-term presence of about 50,000 U.S. troops, down from the current
figure of more than 160,000.

[Associated Press Writer Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to
this story.]

Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.