Iraq uncomfortable on SOFA

By Libby

Bush stated long ago that his end goal was to force the incoming administration to continue his failed Iraq policies and he apparently thought he could pull off a fast one with his Status of Forces Agreement, that he's negotiating outside of any Congressional involvement. It may not be as easy as he thought. The Iraqis aren't buying it and Congress is feeling its oats.

"The Americans are making demands that would lead to the colonization of Iraq," said Sami al-Askari, a senior Shiite politician on parliament's foreign relations committee who is close to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. "If we can't reach a fair agreement, many people think we should say, 'Goodbye, U.S. troops. We don't need you here anymore.' "

Congress has grown increasingly restive over the negotiations, which would produce a status of forces agreement setting out the legal rights and responsibilities of U.S. troops in Iraq and a broader "security framework" defining the political and military relationship between the two countries. Senior lawmakers of both parties have demanded more information and questioned the Bush administration's insistence that no legislative approval is required.

I'm sure I don't need to remind you that Bush has also long insisted he had no desire for a permanent military presence in Iraq. I think in reading of the terms of the agreement, we can safely call that one a complete lie. He not only wants a permanent occupation, he's trying to sell the Iraqis on giving up even the illusion of sovereignty.