White House Lays Foundation for ‘Normal’ Iraq Relationship

American Forces Press Service ^ | Fred W. Baker III

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2007 – President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki have laid the groundwork for defining what a long-term relationship between the two countries will look like, White House officials announced today.

Both signed the U.S.-Iraq Declaration of Principles for Friendship and Cooperation, the first step toward a normalized, bilateral relationship, said Brett McGurk, director for Iraq in the National Security Council. The document provides a framework for future negotiations between the two countries and loosely defines the issues.

McGurk said long-term progress in the region will take a generational commitment in one form or another, “although the nature of our engagement will transition significantly over time. And as the months of the years go by, far less military, far more economic, diplomatic, political.”

The declaration grew from a communiqué that was signed by top Iraqi leaders this summer that sketched out a path for future relations.

Before bilateral negotiations begin, though, the United Nations resolution that gives Multinational Force Iraq legal rights to “to take all necessary measures to preserve peace and security” in Iraq must be renewed for one more year. Once the resolution is in place, negotiations will begin, White House officials said.

McGurk said the declaration is divided into political, economic, and security issues. During the past three weeks, the Iraqi parliament has debated the declaration and “came to a realization that a long-term partnership with the United States is not simply continuation of the status quo,” he said.

“It’s U.S. support for Iraq diplomatically, politically, economically, and giving the security support that Iraq needs,” McGurk said.

The United States has security relationships with more than 100 countries. Long-term missions for the United States as outlined in the declaration would include continuing to train and equip the Iraqi security forces and transitioning to U.S. over-watch of Iraqi forces; a sustained counterterrorism mission in the region; and protection from external aggressors, helping to stabilize the politics in the country.

McGurk called the document “very broad,” and said details would be worked out in bilateral negotiations. But, he said, the message that the declaration sends is as important as the words it contains.

“It sends a signal to the region … that the United States is committed to Iraq for the long term -- that we’re not packing up and leaving,” McGurk said. “But that nature of our commitment over time will transition, as it should, and that we will have a normalized, bilateral relationship with Iraq.”

Related Sites:
White House Fact Sheet: U.S.-Iraq Declaration of Principles for Friendship and Cooperation

[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News at Home and Abroad You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

Or if they do report it, without the anti-War Agenda Spin!

Not for commercial use. For educational and discussion purposes only.

[tomnbeverly]

Are the Democrats on record regarding this?

Historical, I think every Democrat candidate needs to have a response to this i.e., will they recognize it? Will they support it? Sustain it? This is the cornerstone of success in Iraq. This document is the begining of the peace it is the Marshall plan for Iraq...

[Fireone]

“It’s U.S. support for Iraq diplomatically, politically, economically, and giving the security support that Iraq needs,”
There damn well better be some large volume of cheap oil
coming our way for the political, economic and security of
the United States! (a small price for Iraq to pay)

[tomnbeverly]

Now you done it your gonna get Keith Olbermann all freaked out with his war for oil mantra... The only way we are going to get free oil out of Iraq is if their is a Democrat in the WH here.... any free oil will be labled blood money by the Rats

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

We are moving at warp speed on this thing. We occupied Japan for 7 years and Germany for 10.