US warns time running out as Iraq cabinet meets on pact

[Nambe]

Source: Agence France Presse

... Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, bluntly warned that Iraq risked security losses of "significant consequence" unless it approved an agreement that provides a legal basis for US forces to remain in the country ...

... But the pact remains hugely controversial in Iraq, with fierce opposition in some quarters, especially among hardline Shiite politicians such as radical anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

And Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari sought to dampen expectations of a signing before the US presidential election next month.

"It is unlikely that the Iraqi parliament will approve the SOFA before the American presidential election on November 4," the website of Dubai-based satellite channel Al-Arabiya quoted Zebari as saying. ...

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081021/pl_afp/iraqusmilitary_081021135221

[bemildred]

1. Running out for whom?

Iraq is not going anywhere.

[Winterblues]

2. By LAW the USA must leave after Dec 31st if either the UN doesn't renew

their approval which Russia and China would veto or the US and the Puppet government of Iraq come to an agreement stating the US can stay in Iraq for a longer period. I can only hope and pray that the Iraqis stall long enough to get through the year and then force the USA to withdraw...Poor Chevron though, who would protect them while they abscond with Iraqi oil?

[bemildred]

3. Yep. The Iraqis have shown themselves to be pretty good at stalling so far. nt