How the Election Could Affect Iraq-U.S. Negotiations

Gina Chon reports from Baghdad on the U.S. election’s impact on Iraq. In Iraq, the election could have an immediate impact on contentious negotiations between the U.S. and Iraq on a security agreement that will set the conditions of a continued American military presence here. It’s not so much the result of the election that matters, however, rather the fact that it’s over and done with. U.S. officials, who are currently reviewing Iraqi demands for amendments to the draft pact, were waiting until after the U.S. presidential elections to respond. Now that the drama back home is over, they hope to reply to the Iraqi demands by Thursday, according to people familiar with the matter. Iraqi officials also said the end of the U.S. elections would reduce some of the politics complicating the talks. The current draft agreement calls for U.S. troops to leave Iraq at the end of 2011, although certain forces could be asked to stay longer to train and support the Iraqi ... (link)