Status Of Forces Agreement?

[jwoodie]

It just occurred to me that our "failure" to secure a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Iraq begs the larger question of why we needed one in the first place. We didn't need a SOFA with Germany after defeating the Nazis, so why did we need one to keep U.S. forces in Iraq after defeating the Saddam regime? I am beginning to think that this "failure" was actually intended to provide political cover by blaming the Iraqis for our disastrous withdrawal.

 

[Moonglow]

Germany versus Iraq is not one in the same...

 

[jwoodie]

Germany versus Iraq is not one in the same...

Try working on complete sentences...

 

[LiberalMedia]

So you conservatards steal all of their oil for your own gain, and now you're upset that you didn't get enough furniture out of it too? This is beyond ridiculous.

 

[jwoodie]

So you conservatards steal all of their oil for your own gain, and now you're upset that you didn't get enough furniture out of it too? This is beyond ridiculous.

Try addressing the subject matter...

 

[Camp]

Unlike Iraq, Germany signed a formal unconditional surrender at the end of WWII. They had only the rights and privileges granted by the occupying forces. A formal SOFA was agreed upon in 1966 which protected all NATO troops in Germany.

 

[jwoodie]

Unlike Iraq, Germany signed a formal unconditional surrender at the end of WWII. They had only the rights and privileges granted by the occupying forces. A formal SOFA was agreed upon in 1966 which protected all NATO troops in Germany.

So if Germany had not formally surrendered, we would have had no right to keep troops there from 1945-1966?

 

[Camp]

Unlike Iraq, Germany signed a formal unconditional surrender at the end of WWII. They had only the rights and privileges granted by the occupying forces. A formal SOFA was agreed upon in 1966 which protected all NATO troops in Germany.

So if Germany had not formally surrendered, we would have had no right to keep troops there from 1945-1966?

Unconditionally surrendered is the key. They could have negotiated "conditions" under a conditional surrender that included a SOFA or any other restrictions regarding occupation forces. But they didn't. The allies demanded unconditional surrender so that they had complete and total authority to control Germany any way they wanted.

 

[jwoodie]

Unlike Iraq, Germany signed a formal unconditional surrender at the end of WWII. They had only the rights and privileges granted by the occupying forces. A formal SOFA was agreed upon in 1966 which protected all NATO troops in Germany.

So if Germany had not formally surrendered, we would have had no right to keep troops there from 1945-1966?

Unconditionally surrendered is the key. They could have negotiated "conditions" under a conditional surrender that included a SOFA or any other restrictions regarding occupation forces. But they didn't. The allies demanded unconditional surrender so that they had complete and total authority to control Germany any way they wanted.

Please describe the "conditional surrender" that took place in Iraq.

 

[Camp]

Unlike Iraq, Germany signed a formal unconditional surrender at the end of WWII. They had only the rights and privileges granted by the occupying forces. A formal SOFA was agreed upon in 1966 which protected all NATO troops in Germany.

So if Germany had not formally surrendered, we would have had no right to keep troops there from 1945-1966?

Unconditionally surrendered is the key. They could have negotiated "conditions" under a conditional surrender that included a SOFA or any other restrictions regarding occupation forces. But they didn't. The allies demanded unconditional surrender so that they had complete and total authority to control Germany any way they wanted.

Please describe the "conditional surrender" that took place in Iraq.

There was none. That is what led to the prolonged war that followed the defeat of the Iraqi Army. The US could have and should have had the political and military leaders negotiate a surrender that clearly defined the way in which they and the US would coexist in some kind of formal way until the US was ready to leave, or leave at all.

 

[jwoodie]

You just distinguished Germany from Iraq by saying there was no conditional surrender by Germany. Now you are saying that there was no conditional surrender by Iraq. I find it difficult to follow your logic,