Last U.S. soldier shall leave Iraq on December 31, Iraq says

2011-04-13 03:27:26 GMT+7 (ICT)

BAGHDAD (BNO NEWS) -- The Chairman of the Iraqi Parliament's Security & Defense Committee said on Tuesday that December 31st is the last day that American troops can stay in Iraqi territory.

"An extension for the presence of the American forces in Iraq is something that stands counter to the process of (U.S.) withdrawal. We insist that 31/12/2011 will be the last day for the presence of the last American soldier in Iraq's skies, ground and sea," Hassan al-Sunaid told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

According to a security agreement between Baghdad and Washington, all U.S. forces will be withdrawn by the end of 2011. Less than 50,000 US troops remain in Iraq, eight years since the U.S.-led war began March 20, 2003.

"We shall not give a time extension and won't allow a second reading or an adjustment for the said Agreement, and our position shall be persistent for the withdrawal of the Americans from Iraq," Sunaid said.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Baghdad to mark the eighth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and demand the departure of the American troops.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-13

Following which, Israel can no longer be forbidden by the USA to travel through Iraqi airspace in order to (once again) eliminate the Iranian nuclear program.

Bravo on the last us soldier leaving this year, i hope it happens.. israel or any country can fly over iraq because the country has no real airforce and the US has not sold them sophisticated SAM missiles for the obvious reason .. but they woud have to fly over jordan or syria or saudi arabia or maybe turky to get there and they would have more worries there..also they have to worry about getting shot down over iran itself and possible iranian retaliation i don't think they are planning on doing it with or w/o the us in iraq.