AIRWOLF

by Eric Martin

A mere matter of days after Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the Iraqis, "Read my lips, no new amendments to the status of forces agreement," Xinhua is reporting that the US has, in fact, agreed to the most recent revised draft submitted by Iraqi negotiators.  In fairness to Gates, such ultimatums are a normal part of the negotiation process, and a shift now is not really a mark against him – I’m just having a little fun at his expense.

Further, these are preliminary reports and should be treated with some skepticism until we get official corroboration.  Nevertheless, the article states:

Iraqi officials said that Washington has agreed on most of Iraq’s proposed changes to a draft security agreement that would allow U.S. troops to stay in the country until 2011, an Iraqi newspaper reported on Monday.

"According to information received from the Americans in Baghdad, Washington has agreed on three changes out of five earlier proposed by Baghdad to amend," the official al-Sabah daily quoted a well-informed government source as saying.

The paper also said that the U.S. side "rejected changes on the immunity item, but the U.S. response which is expected in two days would include a proposal that would solve this issue."

According to the source who spoke anonymously, the article on withdrawal will also be amended to stipulate that withdrawal of U. S. forces from Iraq should be within 36 months from the start of implementation of the security agreement, which called Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

Among other articles, that the Americans agreed to change, is to rename the SOFA to be "agreement on withdrawal of U.S. forces," the paper said.

Meanwhile, Shiite lawmaker Sami Al-Askari said that if the Iraqi government’s changes are approved by the U.S., all parliamentary blocs will agree to it.

So maybe instead of arguing about the wisdom of labeling a comprehensive agreement such as this a SOFA, we can start calling it an AWOF?  Er, ARWOF…ARWOLF…AIRWOLF!