A Real Light ... At the End of the Tunnel?

Earthside Comments: Let us hope that this comes to pass.

If the United States finally behaves in an honorable fashion towards Iraq -- respecting its sovereignty -- U.S. troops will leave when they are told to leave.

Perhaps 2009 will see the end of the Bush-ordered American occupation of Iraq ... and this dark, ugly, bloody, illegal and disgraceful episode in U.S. history will finally be at a close.

Link: Iraq Demands US Withdrawal Timeline | Al Jazeera

The US must provide a "clear timeline" to withdraw its troops from Iraq as part of an agreement allowing them to operate in Iraq beyond this year, Hoshiyar Zebari, Iraq's foreign minister, has said.

His comments on Sunday are the strongest public assertion yet that Iraq is demanding a timeline for US withdrawal.

The Reuters news agency quoted Zebari saying an agreement, including the timeline, was "very close" and would probably be presented to the Iraqi parliament in early September.

Link: Iraqi FM: Iraq, US 'Very Close' on Security Deal | Associated Press

U.S. and Iraqi negotiators are "very close" to reaching a long-term security pact that will decide the fate of American troops in Iraq, the foreign minister said Sunday. ...

... Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said the Iraqis were insisting on the inclusion of a "very clear timeline" for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces, but he refused to disclose any dates being discussed.

The main sticking points have been over the authorization of U.S. military operations, immunity for U.S. troops and sovereignty issues, Zebari said, adding that both sides "are compromising on all these issues."

In videotaped remarks to reporters, Zebari said in Arabic that negotiators were "on the brink" of agreement. But he later called The Associated Press to stress the talks were ongoing.

"They have achieved substantial progress," he said. "We are very close to reaching a final agreement."

The Iraqi government has been holding firm for a withdrawal schedule — a move the Iraqis said was essential to win parliamentary approval. But U.S. acceptance — even tentatively — of a specific timeline would represent a dramatic reversal of American policy in place since the war began in March 2003.

Zebari said he hoped an agreement could be ready to present to Iraqi lawmakers for approval "when the parliament convenes ... hopefully in early September."