Barack Obama will take credit tonight for withdrawing US combat troops from Iraq. This is despite the fact that he opposed the successful Bush surge and he even commented that genocide would be better than keeping troops in Iraq.
It will also be interesting to see if President Obama mentions that the agreement to withdraw combat troops was signed under Bush.
The Sunday Times reported this news on November 17, 2008.
All US troops will leave Iraq within three years, and soldiers will withdraw from major towns and cities by next summer, under a landmark deal approved by the Iraqi Cabinet. The last British troops are expected to leave Iraq by the end of next year.
The agreement would draw a line under the campaign launched by President Bush in 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein in which 4,201 US and 176 British military personnel have died.
The pact, which also restricts US operations in the country beyond the end of this year, will be submitted to parliament for a final vote shortly…
…Main points of the agreement
– All US forces to leave Iraq by the end of 2011
– US forces to pull out of towns by summer 2009
– Iraq can try US troops for serious crimes off-duty and off-base
– Baghdad's green zone to be handed to the Iraqi Government
– Iraqi airspace will be handed over to Iraq
– US forces need Iraqi judge's order before they raid houses
– Iraq has the right to search shipments of US military material
– Iraqi territory cannot be used for assaults on neighbouring countries
– Either side may end the accord by serving notice of one year
The Guardian also reported on the 2008 agreement.
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