Iraq Wants Ban On US Using Its Territory To Attack Neighbours

By Cernig

Iraq has produced four proposed amendments to the satus of forces agreement with the US - chief among them being a ban on the US using Iraqi territory to attack its neighbours. The Iraqis want to be able to declare the agreement null-and-void if the US breaks the amendment.

Obviously this is spurred by the US incursion into Syria over the weekend, for which the motives are still murky. But Iraq's friendships with both Syria and the more likely next target of such raids - Iran - is obviously uppermost in Iraqi lawmakers' minds. If the agreement was voided following a hostile act, Iraq could declare the US presence there illegal or even open hostilities after doing so.

The Iraqis also want a clear definition of "duty" when cases arise involving crimes committed off base, presumably so that the US cannot do a legal dance around a provision already in the agreement that US soldiers and contractors are subject to iraqi law when off base and off duty.

And, interestingly, Iraq also wants the right to inspect all U.S. military shipments entering or leaving Iraq. I can see why they'd want to know about those entering - it would give Iran a heads-up if the US suddenly srated pflying in penetrator bombs or tac-nukes, for instance. But I wonder what lies behind the wish to inspect cargos leaving. Illegal renditions, maybe?

The Bush administration, though, have already indicated that they consider negotiations closed and won't look at new amnendments. They're bluffing with a busted flush again, counting on the Iraqi elite wanting a US presence more than it wants and needs political approval from the Iraqi populace. If they're wrong, then January will see either a humiliating climbdown by Maliki - who swore he'd not ask for a renewal of the UN mandate - in advance of provincial elections, or it will see the US occupation of Iraq become as illegal under international law as the original invasion was.

Comments

[Peter G.]

Such a sweetly reasonable request could only be denied by the excuse of a missed negotiating deadline. It rather puts the Bush administration on the spot regarding their future intentions. That will shortly be moot in any event. I would earnestly hope that no one would be foolish enough to introduce nuclear weapons into such an insecure environment and really, Diego Garcia is plenty close enough to stage those types of weapons. The demand for outgoing inspections is very puzzling.

[khr]

About inspecting cargo leaving.

What comes to mind is US soldiers smuggling out stuff from Iraq - Antiquities come to mind immediately, but other items could be trophy weapons, or stuff that is cheap in Iraq because of subsidies.