Iraq: Thousands protest proposed U.S. security pact

[Ichingcarpenter]

Source: AP

BAGHDAD (AP) — Tens of thousands took to the streets Friday in opposition to a proposed U.S.-Iraqi security agreement, raising doubts that negotiators can meet a July target to finalize a pact to keep U.S. troops in Iraq after the current U.N. mandate expires.

U.S. President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki signed a statement last December on the future of U.S.-Iraqi relations, saying they planned to finalize a new security agreement by July 31 — in time for Iraq's parliament to approve the deal before the U.N. mandate expires at the end of the year.

U.S. and Iraqi officials began negotiations in March on a blueprint for the long-term security agreement and a second deal, to establish the legal basis for U.S. troops to remain in the country after a U.N. mandate runs out.

Although U.S. officials insist they are not seeking permanent bases, suspicion runs deep among many Iraqis that the Americans want to keep at least some troops in the country for many years.

Rallies in Baghdad and several other Iraqi cities followed Friday prayer services and were the first in wake of a call by anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr for weekly protests against the deal, even though few details of the talks have been released.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2008-05-30-iraq-security-pact_N.htm

[LynnTheDem]

1. The Iraqi people have as much say in what their new "government" does...

as they did under the old one.


Iraq for Iraqis; Invaders go home.

[robinlynne]

2. Yeah Iraqis! Sounds like we have something in common.

[MidwestTransplant]

3. Funny I didn't see anything about this on cable news today

[thecrow]

4. Are you surprised??

They wouldn't put this up with the smell of McCain in the air.
Cheney wouldn't LIKE that.

[ohio2007]

5. No mention of that "freedom of assembly" story or this

May 2008 Least Deadliest Month in Iraq for US Since Start of War

http://icasualties.org/oif/

Saddam would have busted up the rallies but as long as rallies remain peaceful and don't get "car bombed" the Iraqi do look to the future as the Iraqi civilian deaths also decline from the pre surge quagmire ;


Iraqi civilian deaths;
Sep-06 3,389
May-08 396
http://icasualties.org/oif/IraqiDeaths.aspx

I don't think the spin masters will care to speculate what those types of #'s may suggest ;


World praises progress in Iraq as Baghdad seeks debt relief

Secretary General of the UN Ban Ki-moon holds a press conference at the first Iraq Compact Annual Review Conference in InfraCity, Stockholm. World leaders, including Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on Thursday hailed Baghdad's progress in combatting violence and stabilising Iraq.
(AFP/Soren Andersson)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080529/ts_afp/iraqswedenununrestmeet

[unkachuck]

6. not to worry....

"...in time for Iraq's parliament to approve the deal before the U.N. mandate expires at the end of the year."

....I'm sure Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will be extremely helpful should the 'mandate' expire....who better to proselytize US occupation than a South Korean?