Introduction to International Politics
Foreign Event Analysis
| Locale | ![[]](http://www.kvasaheim.com/flags/flag15-iq.png "Flag of Iraq") | Iraq |
|---|---|---|
| Title |
Iraq Agrees to US Troop Deal
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| Summary |
Iraq has approved a troop deal making it legal for US troops to remain in Iraq through 2011. Iraq’s Presidential Council signed the agreement into law on Thursday, and it will go into effect on January 1st, 2009. There will; however, be a referendum during the middle of next year, where the Iraqi voters will have the option to invalidate the deal. The agreement comes amid decreased violence and increased cooperation between the various factions of Iraq.
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| Analysis |
This deal is good news for both the United States and Iraq. It shows the Iraqi government is finally getting up to speed and is ready to start dealing with problems through legislation rather than violence. For the United States, it turns the situation from a catastrophe with no end in sight to one with a light at the end of the tunnel. If all goes according to plan and the Iraqi government is able to keep itself propped up as a result of the US withdrawal program, the United States will gain a valuable democratic ally in the Middle East and an oil-rich trading partner.
This also shows that the United States is beginning to deal with the Iraqi government as a respectable sovereign power as opposed to a kind of little-brother government like it has in the past. A mutually agreed upon withdrawal plan puts Iraq and the United States on the same level diplomatically, which is a huge step for the Iraqis. However, this plan could spell negative press for President-elect Obama, who initially put forth a sixteen month withdrawal plan, while this plan could take as many as three years.
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| Perspective |  | Liberal |
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| Submitted | December 5, 2008 at 04:20 am | |
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