[Alberta's Child]

Under the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement signed by George W. Bush in 2008, all U.S. military personnel were to leave Iraq by December 31, 2011.

Is there another U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement out there that I'm not aware of? Please fill me in on the details if that is the case.

[celmak]

Read the text yourself, since you are so aware of it. There are plenty of stipulations in case the US was needed.

[Ben Ficklin]

"Is there is another U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement out there that I'm not aware of?"

You are absolutely correct on Bush signing the SOFA in Dec, 2008. This was a legal and binding document that could not be changed by the US.

But, it was widely believed that once the withdrawal began, Iraq would have second thoughts and would consent to either delaying the final withdrawal, or possibly consenting to another SOFA.

And Obama pursued that.

But Iraq insisted on having legal authority over any troops there after Dec 31, 2011.

The US doesn't do that. We have troops all over the world that are covered by SOFAs in which we retain legal authority.

So, Obama pulled them all out. As any president would.

The same thing could happen in Afghanistan. Obama has proposed a residual force there. If Afghanistan insists on legal authority, Obama will pull them all out.