Iraq and the United States are near an agreement on all American combat troops leaving Iraq by October 2010, with the last soldiers out three years after that, two Iraqi officials told the Associated Press on Thursday. U.S. officials, however, said no dates had been agreed. The proposed deal calls for Americans to leave Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009, according to the two senior officials, both close to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Baghdad, Washington reported near accord on 2010 troop pullout
August 8, 2008 at 1:48AM
Both Iraqi and American officials agreed that the deal is not final and that a major unresolved issue is the U.S. demand for immunity for U.S. soldiers from prosecution under Iraqi law.
DRONE PILOTS SUFFER STRESS OF BATTLE
The Air National Guardsmen who operate Predator drones over Iraq via remote control, launching deadly missile attacks from the safety of March Air Force Base in Southern California 7,000 miles away, are suffering some of the same psychological stresses as their comrades on the battlefield.
Working in air-conditioned trailers, Predator pilots observe the field of battle through a bank of video screens and kill enemy fighters with a few computer keystrokes. The cameras enable them to see people getting killed in high-resolution detail, officers say.
In a fighter jet, "when you come in at 500-600 miles per hour, drop a 500-pound bomb and then fly away, you don't see what happens," said Col. Albert K. Aimar. But when a Predator fires a missile, "you watch it all the way to impact, and I mean it's very vivid. So it does stay in people's minds for a long time." He said the stresses are "causing some family issues, some relationship issues." He and other Predator officers would not elaborate.
AL-SADR DECISION DUE TODAY ON MILITIA
A spokesman for Muqtada al-Sadr said on Thursday that the Shiite cleric will call on his Mahdi Army militia to maintain a cease-fire against U.S. troops. The statement by Sheik Salah al-Obeidi came as Al-Sadr planned to spell out details of a formula to reorganize his Mahdi Army militia by separating it into an unarmed cultural organization and elite fighting cells. The announcement is expected today.
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Al-Sadr would disband the militia.
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