Possible US-Iraq Pact

Nothing confirmed yet but mulitple sources are reporting that the US and Iraq may be near a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that would include a timeline for a US withdrawal.

Middle East specialist Juan Cole:

Worldmeets.us translated an article today from the Iraqi newspaper al-Sabah saying that there has been a breakthrough in the negotiations between the al-Maliki government and the Bush administration on a status of forces agreement. The US would commit to withdraw most troops by 2010-2011 assuming ground conditions permitted. The US military would no longer be able to arrest Iraqis at will.

TalkingPointsMemo.com cites an Associated Press report:

Two Iraqi officials say the U.S. and Iraq are close to a deal under which all American combat troops would leave by October 2010 with remaining U.S. forces gone about three years later.

A U.S. official in Washington acknowledges progress has been made on the timelines for a U.S. departure but offered no firm date. Another U.S. official strongly suggested the 2010 date may be too ambitious. A timetable is part of a security agreement being negotiated by U.S. and Iraqi officials. Both sides stress the deal is not final and could fall apart over the issue of legal immunity for American troops.

The Washington Post makes a similar report containing an important element involving Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

On Thursday, a spokesman for Muqtada al-Sadr said the Shiite cleric will call on his fighters to maintain a cease-fire against American troops--but may lift the order if the security agreement fails to contain a timetable for a U.S. withdrawal.

Despite intense criticism from Bush/McCain of timelines for US withdrawal as "surrender" it is sounding as if something close to Barack Obama's proposal is about to become policy.

UPDATE: McClatchy posted a report today as well.