Odierno says SOFA in Iraq may be elusive

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Odierno says SOFA in Iraq may be elusive
Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, November 1, 2008

The commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, believes there is a 20 percent to 30 percent chance that the U.S. and Iraq will not be able to reach a troop-operating deal by the Dec. 31 deadline, according to an interview published Friday.

The interview, in the Washington Times, quoted Odierno as saying that on a scale of one to 10, "I’m probably a seven or eight that something is going to be worked out. I think it’s important for the government of Iraq. I think it’s important for security and stability here."

Officials from both countries have been negotiating a pact that would allow U.S. troops to operate in Iraq after a U.N. mandate ends later this year. Negotiations have stalled over issues including immunity from Iraqi law in most cases for U.S. troops.

U.S. officials have said they are done negotiating, but Iraqi government officials insist that domestic politics will force them to make more changes to the agreement.

A draft accord has reportedly been reached, but the Iraqi cabinet and parliament have balked at making it final. The agreement reportedly calls for American combat troops to leave Iraqi cities by summer and for combat troops to leave Iraqi by 2011.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58535