[R-G] The New Iraqi Sovereignty: Just Like the Palestinians Have in Gaza

[Anthony Fenton]

January 6, 2009
Just Like the Palestinians Have in Gaza
The New Iraqi Sovereignty

By RON JACOBS

http://counterpunch.org/jacobs01062009.html

There's got to be some irony in the US transference of control to  
Iraqi security forces while the Israelis pound Gaza.  Why?  Because,  
despite the hoopla in the US press and its Iraqi clones, the nature of  
the control being "given back" to the Iraqis seems quite similar to  
the control over Gaza that was given them by the Israelis when they  
withdrew their forces in 2005.  In other words, any control the Iraqi  
government and its security forces might now have can be removed at  
any time by US forces.  Indeed, the US forces are not even  
withdrawing.  They are merely turning the security details they  
performed for the past five years or so to Iraqi security forces whose  
essential existence depends on the presence of US forces populating  
bases around Iraq.

According to the Washington Post article about the transfer, "the long- 
term plan, which could change if security deteriorates, is to maintain  
a handful of heavily secured American compounds," which would  
facilitate support, intelligence and other such functions on an  
ongoing basis.  In addition, the US forces will also be available for  
raids and other police and military actions when the US-approved  
government in Baghdad asks for their help.  While it is safe to assume  
that many of these actions will be at the genuine request of that  
government, it is also safe to expect that some will be at the behest  
of the US command.

While no one has suggested that this transfer of control is tantamount  
to the evacuation of US and allied forces from Saigon in 1975, the  
overall tone of the US mainstream media is that it is a step in that  
direction.  This is patent nonsense.  The nation of Iraq will not be  
rid of US military influence until every last US soldier is gone.   
This means troops considered combat forces along with those in  
support, intelligence and advisory roles.  In case Americans have  
missed it, this fact will not exist on the ground for a long time.   
This means, quite simply, that there is plenty of time for things to  
go in a direction unfavorable to Washington's designs.  Should this  
occur, the likelihood of the recently negotiated Status of Forces  
Agreement existing in its current status diminishes rather quickly.   
For those unfamiliar with the actualities of the agreement, there is a  
section that allows either Washington or any Iraqi government to  
abrogate the agreement at any time.  As for the rest of the agreement,  
US military officials are already on record calling into question  
elements of the agreement that limit their troops' ability to conduct  
raids, move freely about the country, and defend US bases.

When it comes to Washington, the Bush administration has also  
questioned the interpretation of various parts of the agreement and  
has left it open for its successor to do the same.  These questions  
seem to stem from the Pentagon's resistance to the limitations on its  
mobility and perceived mission a strict interpretation of the  
agreement would require.  Unless the Obama administration makes it  
clear that it will listen to US voters and begin the withdrawal of US  
forces from Iraq immediately, then the Pentagon will continue the  
occupation despite the opposition of the US and Iraqi people.   
Unfortunately, Mr. Obama has made no indication that he will fulfill  
the hopes of those that want all US troops home now.  Like every other  
president of the US, he seems to have tuned out the voters and tuned  
in the generals.  It is up to us to reverse that situation.

Only a few hours after the United Nations mandate for Iraq expired and  
the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) went into effect, US forces  
opened fire on a female staffer for Iraq’s Biladi TV, critically  
wounding her. The reason for the attack was unclear.  This incident  
could be the first test of the SOFA.  After all, US forces are not  
supposed to do anything in Iraq without coordinating with the Iraqi  
government and aren’t supposed to have anything to do with civilians  
outside of an Iraqi court issued warrant. The possibility exists that  
this may be treated as a criminal assault and the US forces involved  
will be tried in an Iraqi court.  The greater likelihood, however, is  
that nothing will happen and that US forces will continue to operate  
like the occupying forces they are.  Kind of like the way the Israeli  
military operates in Gaza.

Ron Jacobs is author of The Way the Wind Blew: a history of the  
Weather Underground, which is just republished by Verso. Jacobs' essay  
on Big Bill Broonzy is featured in CounterPunch's collection on music,  
art and sex, Serpents in the Garden. His first novel, Short Order  
Frame Up, is published by Mainstay Press. He can be reached at: rjacobs3625 at charter.net