Bush commits troops to Iraq for the long term

The Bush administration formally committed the United States on Nov. 26 to a long-term military presence in Iraq, pledging to protect the government in Baghdad from internal coup plots and foreign enemies. The cooperation pact, endorsed by President Bush and the Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, during a video conference, will set the agenda for a future US relationship with Iraq, the administration's adviser on Iraq and Afghanistan, General Douglas Lute, told reporters at the White House. "The two negotiating teams, Iraq and the United States, now have a common sheet of music with which to begin the negotiations," Lute said. The military, economic and diplomatic agreement would commit US forces to defending the government of Iraq from internal and external threats as well as fighting "all other outlaw groups regardless of affiliation," according to the declaration of principles released by the White House. In return, Iraq pledged itself to "encouraging the flow of foreign investments to Iraq, especially US investments, to contribute to the reconstruction and rebuilding of Iraq." The promise was immediately seen as a potential bonanza for US oil companies. Lute offered few details on the scale of future US troop levels in Iraq or permanent US bases. He noted that the agreement, because it was not a treaty, would not be subject to oversight by Congress. "What US troops are doing, how many troops are required to do that, are bases required, which partners will join them -- all these things are on the table," he said. The agreement was announced as Maliki indicated he intended to seek the renewal of the UN security council mandate for Iraq for one more year when it expires in December. The agreement has been in the works since last August, when the Maliki government officially requested the long-term strategic relationship with Washington. Iraqi officials said that under the proposed formula, Iraq would get full responsibility for internal security and US troops would relocate to bases outside the cities. Iraqi officials foresee a long-term presence of about 50,000 US troops, down from the current figure of more than 160,000.