U.S. warns of issues if Iraq pact fails to pass

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U.S. warns of issues if Iraq pact fails to pass
By Sameer N. Yacoub - Associated Press Writer
Posted : Tuesday Oct 28, 2008 5:53:57 EDT

BAGHDAD — The U.S. military has advised Iraqi authorities that it will have to shut down security and service operations in Iraq if the year ends without a security agreement or a renewed U.N. mandate for American forces, Iraqi officials said Monday.

The warning comes as Iraqi politicians are considering a draft agreement that would keep U.S. troops in Iraq through 2011 and give the Iraqis a greater role in security operations.

Parliament must approve the deal before the U.N. mandate expires Dec. 31, or there will be no legal basis for the U.S. to operate in Iraq.

But some key Shiite politicians say the agreement cannot win approval in its current form and have asked for unspecified changes.

Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman said the U.S. had submitted papers identifying a number of activities that would stop at the end of the year in the absence of a legal framework. These include not only security operations but also infrastructure improvements and assistance to ministries.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/ap_iraq_pact_102708/%2e