Colonizing the Oil Fields

A high ranking Iraqi official called the Regime's proposed status of forces agreement,"more abominable than the occupation". The agreement calls for 58 permanent US bases, and a clear relinquishment of Iraqi soverignty by allowing the United States to unilaterally decide if a hostile act from another country constitutes aggression against the state. Presumably this provision would allow the US to launch a retaliatory strike against Iran using forces stationed in Iraq for what it may deem Iran's provocative behavior. Equally unacceptable provisions are complete functional control of Iraqi airspace and immunity for US military personnel and private military contractors, like Blackwater USA, whose mercenaries have been involved in controversial killing of unarmed civilians. Iran, now enjoying increased influence in Iranian affairs as a result of the US invasion and occupation, has made it clear to visiting Prime Minister Al Maliki that the proposed security accord is unacceptable. Currently, the US military operates out of 30 facilities, not counting minor combat posts. The international legal basis for the occupation, the UN mandate under Chapter Seven of the UN charter, expires in December absent an extension. Iraqi legislators are anxious to remove Iraq from the status of being a threat to world peace, but view the proposed security agreement with the US as overreaching. Democratic legislators in the United States also want a say in approving the arrangement which they maintain far exceeds previous executive agreements made without formal congressional approval in scope and intent.