For all you Obama haters who want to pin the withdrawal from Iraq on him, heres a few facts that might not mix well with the right wing noise machines constant harangue that insists it was all Obamas fault and that we should stop blaming everything on Bush. Iraq and U.S. agree that all U.S. forces will withdraw no later than December 31, 2011. On November 17, 2008, US and Iraqi officials signed a Security Agreement, often referred to as a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), stating that All the United States Forces shall withdraw from all Iraqi territory no later than December 31, 2011. The agreement also called for all U.S. combat forces to withdraw from Iraqi cities no later than June 30, 2009. [U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement, 11/17/08] Bush praised agreement as another sign of progress. Calling the SOFA another sign of progress, President Bush said in a November 27, 2008, statement, The Strategic Framework Agreement sets the foundation for a long-term bilateral relationship between our two countries, and the Security Agreement addresses our presence, activities, and withdrawal from Iraq. [whitehouse.gov, 11/27/08] Bush signed SOFA, which lays out a framework for the withdrawal of American forces in Iraq. In a press conference at the signing of the SOFA, President Bush commented: Were also signing a Security Agreement, sometimes called a Status of Forces Agreement. The agreement provides American troops and Defense Department officials with authorizations and protections to continue supporting Iraqs democracy once the U.N. mandate expires at the end of this year. This agreement respects the sovereignty and the authority of Iraqs democracy. The agreement lays out a framework for the withdrawal of American forces in Iraq -- a withdrawal that is possible because of the success of the surge. Bush later commented: There are certain benchmarks that will be met -- such as troops out of the cities by June of 09. And then theres a benchmark at the end of the agreement. As to the pace of meeting those agreements, that will depend of course upon the Iraqi government, the recommendations of the Iraqi military, and the close coordination between General Odierno and our military. [whitehouse.gov, 12/14/08] And also this from reports at the time of withdrawal: theguardian/world/2011/oct/21/iraq-rejects-us-plea-bases
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 20:11:35 +0000
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