Radio France Internationale – Bush Administration-Iraq Occupation Agreement
RFI: In Iraq thousands of supporters of the influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr gathered to demonstrate against the according being negotiated between Washington and Iraq that would extend the presence of US troops beyond its current mandate which expires at the end of the year. The opposition believes this accord will perpetuate the US occupation. Others insist that the government is becoming a puppet of George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice. This pact is not only polemical in Iraq, but also in the United States. That’s the opinion of Grant Smith, director of the IRmep in Washington DC.
Grant Smith: It is as controversial in the United States as it is in Iraq, particularly between the presidential candidates. On this side of the Atlantic, the campaign of Barak Obama has apparently advised Iraq not to sign any agreement approved only by the administration before regime change in Washington. In Baghdad, it is being seen as yet another extension of the right of foreign troops over the right of civilians, after so many problems particularly with unaccountable private military contractors and military tactics which have unfortunately wounded and killed many innocents . I am very doubtful that the Bush administration will be able to sign, in their waning months, an accord of such a long duration, of such a concrete nature, that would impact and limit to such a degree the freedom of movement of an incoming administration. Supplement early draft US-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement [PDF]