News organizations around the world are focusing on a controversial security deal to keep U.S. forces in Iraq.
The current United Nations mandate permitting U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq expires December 31.
We’re looking at perspectives from the BBC, MSNBC, Iraq’s Alsumaria TV, AFP, FOX News and others.
The BBC focused on comments by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
Gates stressed the importance of reaching an agreement, allowing US troops to remain in Iraq until 2011.
“The consequences of not having Status of Forces Agreement and of not having a renewed UN authorization are pretty dramatic." (www.bbc.co.uk)
On MSNBC, military analyst and retired U.S. Army Colonel Jack Jacobs, discussed the deal’s points of contention.
“Well, Secretary Gates has said if there’s no agreement, we’re just going to stop operating. The disagreement is over how U.S. forces are going to operate in breaking into houses, arresting Iraqis citizens, even what happens if there’s an accusation that American forces were engaged in some sort of illegal activity, the Iraqis would like the troops be susceptible to Iraqi law and we’re not going to put up with it. So, Secretary Gates has said we’re just going to stop operating altogether if there’s no agreement.” (www.msnbc.com)
AFP reports that U.S. Military Chief Michael Mullen received criticism from Iraqi officials after he warned them to sign the U.S. security forces agreement.
An Iraqi government spokesman said “All Iraqis … are aware of their responsibilities and are assessing whether to sign the deal or not in a way that it is suitable to them … it is not correct to force Iraqis into making a choice.” (www.afp.com)
CBS News showed supporters of radical Shi’a cleric Muqtada al-Sadr rallying in the streets of Sadr City this weekend in opposition to the deal.
This is CBS News video of that rally.
Al Jazeera reports protestors shouted, “No, no, to America! No, no to the devil!” while burning representations of US government officials. (www.cbs.com)
In contrast, Iraqi news outlet, Alsumaria TV, reports Kurds “approve the security agreement, warning other political parties of the consequences of rejecting the agreement as any other alternatives would be alarming to the country.” (www.alsumaria.tv)
But FOX News says there is still much more work to be done.
“We do not believe prior to the election on November 4th that that deal will be hammered out here in Baghdad.” (www.foxnews.com)
What are your views on the U.S. Military Security Agreement in Iraq? Should U.S. forces be subject to Iraqi law?
Share your views with us, and please, check out our sources.
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