November 27, 2007 (LPAC)--Yesterday, President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki signed, via videoteleconference, a document intended to lead to setting of the terms for a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq. The document states that the U.S. and Iraq "are committed to developing a long-term relationship of cooperation and friendship as two fully sovereign and independent states with common interests." The document sets forth principles on the political, economic and security spheres which belie that opening declaration. Among other things, those principles include keeping the largely American-authored constitution in force, giving American investment in Iraq preference over other foreign investment, and providing "security assurances" not only against foreign aggression but also on internal security as well.

Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, Bush's "war czar" told reporters that the agreement stems from a joint Communique of Aug. 26 in which Maliki asked the U.S. for a long-term relationship. He described it as a "mutual statement of intent that will be used to frame our formal negotiations" in 2008. The size and posture of the future U.S. occupation force is supposed to be worked out in those negotiations, but withdrawal timelines or goals are not "anticipated" to be included.

The nature of the agreement is also such that it bypasses Congressional input, nor is it anticipated that the agreement will lead to a formal treaty requiring ratification by the U.S. Senate.