[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

BBC Report:

Iraq cabinet backs US troops deal

Wonder where al-Sadr stands on the agreement?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

More from BBC:

Iraq pact raises withdrawal hopes

*******************************EXCERPT************************

By Andrew North
BBC News, Baghdad

US President-elect Barack Obama supports a troop pullout by 2010

Just over three years from now, all US forces could be out of Iraq, if the Iraqi-US security pact finally comes into force.

It will also give the Iraqi authorities much greater say over what American forces do in the meantime.

With the Iraqi cabinet vote on Sunday, it has passed its first hurdle and now goes to the Iraqi parliament.

It has to be approved by the end of the year, when the UN mandate covering the presence of US and other troops ends.

In effect, this is now a deadline for both sides - for the Americans to get out and the Iraqis to take full responsibility for security.

It has come after months of difficult negotiations between Washington and Baghdad.

Staged withdrawal

The first stage will be for American troops to pull back to bases outside Iraqi cities, by the middle of next year.

[Allegra]

Wonder where al-Sadr stands on the agreement?

Oh, I'm sure he's furious. He hasn't wanted anything signed at all.

His minions have been staging protests just outside the IZ every Friday. We hear them chanting stuff and the leaders hollering angrily through bullhorns.

Fortunately, these protests have only been noisy. No violence.

[Marine_Uncle]

"Wonder where al-Sadr stands on the agreement?"
I believe the answer to your question is in the article:

But the pact has drawn fire from hardline nationalists, especially Iraq's influential Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, whose supporters have called for mass demonstrations to oppose any agreement with the US "occupier".
It was expected the fat boy would continue his objections to US and other foreign troops staying on a few more years.