Iraq Lawmakers Postpone Vote On Troop Pact

Parliamentarians Will Now Decide Thursday Whether To Extend U.S. Military Presence For 3 More Years

(CBS/AP)  Iraqi lawmakers have postponed a vote on a U.S.-Iraqi security pact that would allow American troops to stay in the country for three more years, if it passes.

The vote in Iraq's parliament was scheduled to take place in Wednesday's session, but was put off until Thursday as the pact's supporters scrabbled to secure more votes among skeptical lawmakers.

Proponents of the agreement, which only reached parliament after weeks of arduous negotiations between Iraqi and U.S. officials, argue that the Americans are still needed to maintain recent security gains.

CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports from Baghdad that the ruling Shiite and Kurdish parliamentary blocs have enough votes to approve the agreement, but the government wants it to win by a convincing margin - in part because one of this country's most influential Shiite clerics, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has said he can accept the agreement, provided it has broad public support.

Shiite Lawmaker Ridha Jawad Taqi told the Associated Press the government's Shiite and Kurdish blocs, which account for about 140 seats, or a slight majority in the legislature, were willing to hold a national referendum on the deal in 2009. That amounts to a concession to many Sunni Arab legislators, who have said they would support the security pact Wednesday if it was put to a nationwide vote next year.

So the deal, if approved in the parliamentary vote, could still be rescinded if it fails in the popular referendum.

A referendum would give the Iraqi people a chance to evaluate "whether their interests have been achieved," said Alaa Makki, a member of parliament's biggest Sunni Arab bloc, the 44-seat Iraqi Accordance Front.

A senior al-Maliki aide confirmed the concession by the Kurdish and Shiite blocs. Speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, he said a draft bill containing provisions for the referendum and a package of political reforms demanded by the Sunnis would be voted on separately in parliament, also on Wednesday.

In a reminder of the still-tenuous security situation, Iraqi officials said Wednesday that at least two civilians were killed and four others wounded in a roadside bombing in central Baghdad, just hours ahead of the crucial vote.

Police and hospital officials said the blast targeted a minibus and that those killed were passengers.

The explosion happened in the Firdous Square area where thousands of followers of anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr rallied last week to protest the deal. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to release the information.

America is also still paying a high price for involvement in the fight to secure Iraq. Two American troops were killed Tuesday after a gunman in an Iraqi army uniform opened fire while they were distributing humanitarian aid in northern Iraq, the U.S. military said.

The security pact is meant to replace a United Nations mandate which grants coalition forces permission to remain in Iraq until the end of this year.

CBS News correspondent Charlie D'Agata reports that Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki's Cabinet overwhelmingly approved the deal last week, but the parliament gets the final say.

Only the Sunni lawmakers could stand in the way of the measure's passage, reports Palmer. They have been holding out for political concessions from the government, including an insistence that large number of prisoners be released. It was unclear Wednesday mourning whether any of the Sunni demands had been met.

More hard-line Sunni opponents, and some Shiites, including lawmakers allied with al-Sadr, have refused to adopt any policy which grants American soldiers an extended stay in the country, reports D'Agata.

If the security pact does not pass muster with politicians, officials in Washington and Baghdad worry there will be little time left in 2008 to hammer out details on an alternative.

Palmer reports that the U.S. would still have the option of going back to the United Nations and getting a extension of the Security Council mandate for Coalition forces. That would raise the possibility of a veto, but the Russians have indicated recently that they're unlikely to do that.

If that option fails, U.S. forces could be forced to return to their bases and cease all operations in Iraq. American officials have painted that as the worst case scenario, says Palmer, pointedly spelling out a wide range of activities they would no longer carry out, including providing security for Iraqi government officials.

[spinproof]

"America is also still paying a high price for involvement in the fight to secure Iraq. Two American troops were killed Tuesday after a gunman in an Iraqi army uniform opened fire while they were distributing humanitarian aid in northern Iraq, the U.S. military said"

Don''t forget the $10 Billion a month tab being paid by U.S. Taxpayers! Iraq should foot this bill as part of any deal for U.S. Troops to stay in Iraq!

[emelder]

Well ... the cowboy President said they wanted democracy ... let''s see if WE can live with their decision.

[armydog2]

time to leave this hellhole. Time for the iraqi''s to stand up and take care of themselves. We have paid too high a price in lives and money to help them.

[earache4]

Who will be the last to die for a lie?

[terrorislame]

THEY decide how OUR people spend OUR Money ?
What has the world came to ?

What a bunch of yoyos. This bunch will disband in days after the US Troops leave. When it all settle out over there, the new Dictator will make Sadaam look like a Choir Boy. Nice job W. Bush.

[cariboubarbi]

Trillions of dollars and thousands of lives wasted only to be kicked out of Iraq when were flat broke and broken. Bush has accomplished what no terrorist ever could. He''s bankrupted the country and brought decimated our military.

[perceptions5]

Democrats, Americans live in a world that has walls and those walls need to be guarded by republicans with guns. Who''s gonna do it? You, Biden? You, Nancy Pelosi?, You, Harry Reid, President elect Obama?

Republicans have a greater responsibility than democrats can possibly fathom. Democrats weep for our enemies and curse the Military; you have that luxury. Democrats have the luxury of not knowing what we know: that our enemies death, while tragic, probably saved lives and that the military%u2019s existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to democrates, saves lives. Democrates don''t want the truth because deep down in places they don''t talk about at parties in Georgetown they want republicans on that wall, you need republicans on that wall.

Republicans use words like honor, code, loyalty. Republicans use them as the backbone of a life trying to defend something. Democrats use them as a punchline. We have neither the time nor the inclination to explain Defense to a democrat who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom Republicans provide and then questions the manner in which we provide it. We would rather democrates just said "thank you," and went on your way. Otherwise, we suggest that democrats pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, we don''t give a ***!! what democrats think!

[cariboubarbi]

The only reason we went into Iraq was for oil. The rest was a pack of lies. Bush never counted on the disaster that has unfolded. The only winners in this boondoggle are Iran and Al Qaeda.

Thanks Bushies!

[perceptions5]

I say this selection of Bush''s Secretary of Defense, Gates,is a ringing endorsement of Bush''s War on Terrorism.

[blackwater66-2009]

We can''t just up and depart in a few weeks or even months, there has to be a security force left behind to insure that the troops that do depart, can do so in a safe manner. If they want us to stay, than lets do so, but have them share the cost of keeping us here for any long period of time.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all and GOD BLESS AMERICA and our Military on the ground over here !!

[omnibus66]

The source of the reduced level of violence in Iraq is millions and millions of dollars secretly being paid to tribal leaders, and has nothing to do with the ''surge''.

When the US troops leave, and the river of dollars dries up, all hell is going to break loose, and a short but bloody civil war will finally establish the order of things in Iraq.

Our being there has delayed the final outcome, but cannot change it.

[panhandlpete]

Since when should we have to take orders from our enemies,(I call the Iraqis enemies as we were TOLD they were responsible for 9/11) and just keep pouring more and more lives, resources and taxpayer dollars into a place which will revert to their OLD ways if/when our troops leave. This pact is nothing more than a PR initiative to keep all the US dollars flowing by giving credence to the Iraqi leaders that they are representing their people.......politics.

The Democrats MUST end this mess or they, too, will suffer at the next election. Republicans may as well go back and redefine their party or disband it. A new party that represents the will of the people will emerge to take control. Just watch the mid year election in Congress to see if this change is starting to take place.

[chris32324]

when the decision is made to withdrawl from iraq,they must get out fast,all the tropps,because the iraqi s will turn their guns on them,dont ever be fooled in thinking the iraqi s have enjoyed this illegal occupation,they ll kill as many as they can.

[nanv102]

VP *** Cheny made an unforgivable strategical mistake by pushing out Sadam Hussein. Iraq needs their dictator to be pacified. They deserve that kind of terror because they are so narrow minded.

[intheshade-2009]

If the Iraqis wait until Jan 20 they can try Bush for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

What a bunch of dummies. Like these clowns are going to tell us what to do. That W. Bush can really pick''em.

[renonv5]

If that option fails, U.S. forces could be forced to return to their bases and cease all operations in Iraq.

NOW your talking!!! They seem to enjoy bombing and killing each other, so get our people out of there and close our borders to any and all people from the middle east. While we''re at it, round up all the ones already here and send them home.

[libsh8theusa]

Iraqi Parliament.

Effective immediately: Iraq will pay for all expenses that America acquires for protecting your sorry @$$es.. If you are unable to make payment immediately then we will start out stand down and start moving troops to Afghanistan.


Note to Afghanistan: We expect more support from you then we are receiving from Iraq


Feel free to contact the UN to see if they will protect you

[takebackusa]

tj let me axe you a question, know what im sayin....would obama be president elect right now....know what im sayin...if he were raised by his father instead of his mother? know what im sayin

Posted by jamesm12341 at 10:49 AM : Nov 26, 2008
+ report abuse



You posted this yesterday jimmyboy. It wasn''t amusing then either. Do you ever have anything to add to the conversation or is it just your psychological need to make yourself feel superior to others that brings you here?

[daffy64]

Iraqi Parliament.

Effective immediately: Iraq will pay for all expenses that America acquires for protecting your sorry @$$es.. If you are unable to make payment immediately then we will start out stand down and start moving troops to Afghanistan.


Note to Afghanistan: We expect more support from you then we are receiving from Iraq


Feel free to contact the UN to see if they will protect you

---

Note to USA: effective immediately you will compensate the families of the 100,000 innocent Iraqis killed in this illegal invasion based on the lie of "weapons of mass destruction". And pay for the "shock and awe" damage incurred on the countries infrastructure.

Then you can go home to your tattered economy.

Heck of a job, Bushie.

[takebackusa]

simple question....it is a yes or no. that is sad that someone asking a simple question makes you feel inferior.

posted by jamesm12341 at 11:08 AM : Nov 26, 2008
+ report abuse


Then try asking a question in proper English. Perhaps something that has to do with the topic !Maybe your worship of GW Bush and Sarah Palin has clouded YOUR perception of how to speak properly.

[earache4]

Who will be the last to die for a lie?

[earache4]

When you say:
tj let me axe you a question, know what im sayin....would obama be president elect right now....know what im sayin...if he were raised by his father instead of his mother? know what im sayin
Posted by jamesm12341 at 10:49 AM : Nov 26, 2008

Do you mean:

you should probably apologize to your parents for growing up such a loser
Posted by jamesm12341 at 07:00 PM

[earache4]

i axed a simple question, know what im sayin....why wont you libs answer it....know what im sayin
Posted by jamesm12341 at 11:23 AM

What does your question have to do with this story?

[boatdocster]

They didn''''t touch us at all when Clinton was Prez. Bush gets elected had he reads "my pet goat" upside down while the terrorists attack us. What a loser.

Posted by FloydZeppd at 11:20 AM : Nov 26, 2008

Thank you!!! Succinct and to the point...

W - Worst Ever

[earache4]

Hopefully a member of this administration - at the end of a rope.
Posted by IwasHungry68 at 11:26 AM

:)

[earache4]

Sorry - as usual, no one understands what you''''re saying.

Good luck in high school!!
Posted by IwasHungry68 at 11:29 AM

GRADE school!

[earache4]

let me axe you all a question....know what im sayin....who was president....know what im sayin...when the uss cole and the world trade center was bombed? know what im sayin
Posted by jamesm12341 at 11:31 AM

Did your parents have any kids that lived?

[earache4]

let me axe you a question....know what im sayin....what is wrong with the way i am talking?...know what im sayin
Posted by jamesm12341 at 11:32 AM

You actually talk while you type? Wow, a multi-tasker...

[earache4]

let me axe you this then...know what im sayin....you are saying that people talk like this....know what im sayin....have the education level of grade school? know what im sayin
Posted by jamesm12341 at 11:35 AM : Nov 26, 2008

james, you are unique. You are the only person I know that talks like that while typing like that....

[earache4]

let me axe you this then...know what im sayin....you are saying that people talk like this....know what im sayin....have the education level of grade school? know what im sayin
Posted by jamesm12341 at 11:35 AM : Nov 26, 2008

I don''t know, I haven''t met your whole family.

[earache4]

....you and everybody else on here knows what group i am talking about...
Posted by jamesm12341 at 11:44 AM

Enlighten us james, who are you talking about?

[earache4]

Really?

Please tell us WHO lived past the age of, let''''s say 120 years old?
Posted by IwasHungry68 at 11:50 AM

McCain?

[earache4]

And james is gone again.... :(

[earache4]

As soon as he is slapped with irrefutable proof, and he is exposed as a true moron, he runs like he''s on fire.
Thanks for playing little Jimmy!!
Posted by IwasHungry68 at 11:58 AM

I think his train of thought derailed...forgot who he was trying to insult....

[earache4]

wow, what a racist you are!! you are saying only black welfare recipients talked the way i was....and your lib friends on here said it was grade school.....you are such a racist
Posted by jamesm12341 at 12:04 PM :

HEY! James is back. Who wants at him first?

[earache4]

So you cant back up your claim that people live for eternity, and will eventually die like us atheists? Posted by IwasHungry68



You are correct! I cant prove it at all.
Posted by DaVicar1 at 12:14 PM

You guys should watch T.A.P.S. (Joe the plumber is on it)....

[daffy64]

Perhaps YOU feel guilty about wiping out a few hundred thousand kameljockeys and their terrorist fiends, but I DONT.
IF you want to pay, go right ahead...
Me? I back my President, and as for the ''''war on terror'''', those baztirds havent touched us on our shores since President Bush promised they wouldnt!!!

---

As a Christian, I believe killing is wrong unless it''s in self defense. You call me a degrading name, but they''re God''s children too. We''re talking humans, not "collateral damage".

And September 11 happened on Bush''s watch, didn''t it? When he finally stopped reading that "My Friend the Goat" book he went off and attacked the wrong country.

Oops.

[daffy64]

I like your nik, "Daffy". It fits.

---

So, you have no effective counter argument. You just chose a shaming tactic.

[motown67usa]

Iraq got almost everything they wanted out of this agreement from the Americans because they knew that Bush wanted this before he left office. The Sunnis also appear to have been appeased, so the bill will probably pass in Iraq%u2019s parliament. The problem is the referendum that seems to be part of the deal. The UN mandate that authorizes the presence of US forces ends on 12/31/08, but the referendum is gong to be July 09. What happens if it%u2019s rejected? Does that mean the U.S. forces will all have to pack up immediately and leave? For more see: http://musingsoniraq.blogspot.com/