SOFA draft: Iraq shall not be used as a launching pad

[cem]

1) Iraq spokesman says US security offer not enough
2) Iraq's cabinet expected to meet on US pact as deadline looms
3) Barazani warns of “civil war” if pact not signed
4) Iran: crushing response to aggressors


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http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j7g6UUABta3tWw73QQ846-R45TKwD94CCEH G0


excerpts from ‘Iraq spokesman says US security offer not enough’

by Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press, 10 November 2008


Iraq's government spokesman said Monday the proposed U.S. changes to a draft security agreement [Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)] were "not enough" and asked Washington to offer new amendments if it wants the pact to win parliamentary approval.

…

The draft agreement — 24 pages in the English version — also states that "Iraqi land, sea and air shall not be used as a launching or transit point for attacks against other countries."

Iraq insisted on the addition after last month's U.S. raid into neighboring Syria and in a bid to ease fears in Iran, which strongly opposes the deal.


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http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081110/wl_mideast_afp/iraqusmilitary_081 110194037/print


excerpts from ‘Iraq's cabinet expected to meet on US pact as deadline looms’

by Benjamin Morgan, AFP, 11 November 2008


"The council of ministers will wait until we have a complete translation in Arabic of the American proposal [Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)] and have consulted legal advisors before making a final decision," Science and Technology Minister Raid Jahid Fahmi told AFP.

…

In a press conference after meeting with Arab League chief Amr Mussa, National Security Minister Sharwan al-Waeli said Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had assured Arab countries in a letter that the arrangement had met two main Iraqi demands.

"The agreement contained two main guarantees: that there will be no transgressions against neighbouring, Arab or friendly states," a statement by the Arab League quoted him as saying.

Waeli said the agreement "forbids any movement or aggression or clash with any neighbouring state" and it "will not take away from Iraq's sovereignty and the Iraqi people's rights."


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http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=102982


Barazani warns of “civil war” if pact not signed

Aswat al-Iraq, 12 November 2008


President of the Iraqi Kurdistan region on Wednesday expressed his doubts that the proposed Iraqi-U.S. security pact [Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)] would be signed, warning of a “civil war” in Iraq if the pact is not approved, as Iraqi security forces are “unable” to control the situation.

“If the pact is not signed, the situation in the country may deteriorate to the point of a civil war,” Barazani said in a press conference in Arbil that was attended by Aswat al-Iraq.


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http://www.presstv.ir/Detail.aspx?id=75143&sectionid=351020101


excerpts from ‘Iran: crushing response to aggressors’

Press TV, 12 November 2008


On Wednesday, Iranian armed forces successfully test fired a new generation of surface-to-surface missiles [called ‘Sejil’] as part of their defensive drive.

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Iran has promised to respond to any aggression by targeting Israel and 32 US bases in the region with its long-range missiles.


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[Disco_Destroyer]

I'm beginning to think they've long missed their window of oppertunity over Iran and maybe that is why they are dipping into their own countries economies. They may not get their wishes but they'll try for a last laugh