Inside Story - Iraq security pact - Nov 17 - Part 1

The security pact proposal put forward by the United States is being debated in the Iraqi parliament. The 'status of forces' agreement has been signed by the US ambassador to Iraq and the Iraqi foreign minister to express their support, and that of the Iraqi cabinet.

The agreement proposes that 150,000 US troops should remain in Iraq for the next three years, setting a timetable for withdrawal of 2011, although they could stay longer if both sides agree, but some Iraqis fear this could be the first step towards a permanent occupation.

Not all parties are happy with the terms and the Iraqi population remains divided, not least because the agreement provides for legal immunity for US forces in Iraq. If crimes including rape and murder are committed within US camps or within a mission they cannot be prosecuted under Iraqi law. The US says it has to protect its citizens, but critics say American soldiers can act with impunity.

Has the status of forces met Iraqi concerns and how will it work in practice?

Presenter Sohail Rahman is joined by Ali Al-Dabbagh, an Iraqi government spokesman, Sami Ramadani, a columnist and senior lecturer in sociology at London Metropolitan University, and Phyllis Bennis, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and author of Ending the Iraq War.

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[Beliserius1]

easy answer for all of this.

Which country has been under permanent occupation by the US?

[hamshow]

The U.S. will only leave if they are pushed out and apparently that will happen soon...

[kimz86]

oh give me a break with the "iraqi army not ready" shit.. it's been going on for years and only naives still go for it! there's no iraqi army getting set.. face it, it is imperialism..

[ikran2007]

more killing of iraqs and muslims

[zutroy1]

Oh my god will you sheep stop saying this is imperialism.

The Iraqi govt wants the US there because they know, as the Iraqi military leaders know, that the Iraqi army is not ready yet. They need US reconnaisance, air transport, and aid.

Shell oil got the contract, they are mostly owned by UK interests NOT US ones and the deal that SHell gave Iraq is far more egenrous than even what western countries get. Iraq is getting a lot of help and it wants it, stop posting lies that they don't.

[revolutionarytruth]

yes especially the impunity to crimes committed by the troops

[JohanBreimo]

A disgusting proposal! I hope the Iraqi ppl will fight very hard against this proposal. No to American imperialism!!

[sexdrugsRnR]

this is nothing but authoritarianism.

nobody agrees but its still happening.