GW wants permanent bases, control of Iraqi airspace, authority to conduct aerial refueling in Iraqi airspace, and to use Iraqi bases
to strike Iraq's neighbors - like Iran. This agreement allows US forces the preogrative to conduct combat operations without Iraqi government approval.
These conditions raised concerns with Iraq that the US was ready to
attack Iraq. This alarmed the Iraqi's.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Malii suggested that US force might
be asked to leave if our two nations cannot agree on the new status
of forces agreement.
This came after Shiite lawmakers feared a loss of Iraq's sovereinty.
The UN mandate for international presence in Iraq expires at the end
of this year and 70% of Iraqi's want us out.

Fine - move our people to Afghanistan and press everything against Bin-Laden and the Taliban where we should HAVE concentrated in the
first place!

Well, well, well, - Thank you all you ignorant assholes with the
"W" decals.........

Sarge

Now, these people can contest their detention in a US court. These military tribunals are a kangaroo court! Now that GW etal has to produce evidence - stating classified information as to why we have
the held theman.
We have held people in prison for over five years without even pressing charges! Now, think about that, five years in jail awaiting
trial! And, no due process has been afforded them.
This is where it will get ignorant - there are detainees whom the
Bush White state are "two dangerous" to be released that have never
seen a court of law!

Sarge

NBC's Tim Russert has died. This man was a fixture on Sunday tv and
he did not pull punches and I think that gave Tim the credibility he had.

It will be interesting to see who NBC replaces Tim with......

Sarge

The United States Supreme Court has granted the detainees at the prison at Guantamano Bay NAS, Cuba can question their detention before
a US Federal Judge. Effectively, this grants the detainees the right of "habeas corpus"; something the Bush administration has resisted.
GW has to keep these military trials out of the US courts. The reason
is rules of evidence and torture.
The President believes that he is doing the best to protect the nation that he can. And, the man should be praised for this. George
Bush's problem is his ego - He believes that he is above the law.
And, there are questions that have to be answered about kidnappings,
rendition flights, and what occurred in those "secret" prisons that
we "didn't have". The President's decision to authorize torture will
be his undoing. And, there is a strong possibility of charges for
crimes against humanity - GITMO and the unprovoked attack on Iraq.
This will be ugly!

Sarge

Ok, correct me if I am wrong, but a SOFA agreement doesn't require Congressional approval. The Secretary of Defense thinks else. And, here is the problem: It isn't our legislature that has to approve
this agreement - it is the Iraqi's.
And, seventy percent of the Iraqi people want us to go home and see
this Status of Forces Agreement - like we have in Korea, and Germany,
as more like continued occupation of Iraq.
Significant amoung US demands is for "continued control of Iraqi airspace, the right to aerial refuel aircraft, and the prerogative
to conduct operations without approval of the Iraqi government.

Could you imagine something like that being shoved up the ass of America by a foriegn power?

I actually pray that they ask us to leave; I am ok with that. I expect some ethnic cleansing - but, we caused some of that by disposing Saddam.

This is bad news for McCain.

Sarge