This week-end the Yahoo/McClatchy News site, Inside Iraq, had an interesting column of Iraqis' responses to their Parliament approving the SOFA pact, pending a referendum to be held next summer. Having read the opinions from Americans, it was interesting to read Iraqi opinion, which I hardly ever see. This column also marks the first time the feature gives the full names of the Iraqi correspondents. They have used first names only until now, for the correspondents' protection. This in itself may be the strongest comment on the SOFA. I will give some excerpts from the column, with a sampling of the range of opinion.
Compiled by McClatchy special correspondents Laith Hammoudi, Jenan Hussein and Hussein Kadhim in Baghdad and Ali al Basri in Basra.
Today is a historic day. Our parlaiment approved a pact that will put an end of the foreign troops on the Iraqi land. Here are some of the Iraqi reactions on the pact from different parts of the country.
There is a strong sense in favor of a SOFA rather than a renewal of the UN mandate for some of those interviewed. They see sovereignty as a primary goal, and are willing to put up with compromise to acheive it.
Ammar al Samurrai, 37, an unemployed man in Baghdad
I feel good. We should get rid of the (United Nations mandate). We shouldn't be under that anymore. In fact, we should have a coalition with a real strong country. This is the best thing we can have. I'm not satisfied with it but I have to accept that this is the best choice.
Others stress the withdrawal of troops as the most important feature.
Ahmed Hassan, 24, of Baghdad
I am for approving the pact because we have the withdrawal guarantees. I think it is so good to have it at this time because we have discussions, negotiations, some debate. If we have delays, maybe the new president will object to any kind of a pact, and maybe he will withdraw his troops without a timetable and it will have bad effects on Iraq.
But many disapprove the agreement, looking not at the certainty of eventual withdrawal of US troops, but on a longer occupation.
Sabah al Shejiri, 34, a Baghdad taxi driver
I'm not really happy with the approval of the (security agreement). In fact I'm really sad because we signed on the occupation. I don't believe the (security agreement) will be good for iraq. The political blocs signed it just for their own interests. The agreement has no interest for the future of Iraq.
I hope this sampling gives you some idea of the whole, and whets your appetite for reading the whole. You might also want to read some of the correspondents' other posts.