Comments on: What Does Passing the SOFA Mean for Iraq?

By: RedHen

RedHen — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:15:55 +0000

I’m wondering about this provision, “American troops will remain subject to American military law if they are on duty and on their bases, but could be prosecuted under Iraqi law if they commit heinous offenses while off duty and outside their bases.” Does this mean that U. S. troops are under our military law only if on duty AND on base, as the words say? If so, doesn’t that mean that they are effectively quarantined? And, if they are on duty off-base, which is probably pretty common, are they then under Iraqi law? It seems to me that our Commander-in-Chief, might just have agreed to an unprecedented exposure of our military to actions against them by a foreign entity, even while carrying out their assigned duties. I can’t remember when we ever allowed our troops to be subject to such ambiguity and risk.

By: lokywoky

lokywoky — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:00:34 +0000

Sorry about my wrong assumptions. Thanks for the correction. I didn’t realize that was so lopsided. Well, maybe you’d like to see us gone also – it would be cheaper for you! *g*

By: AdAstra

AdAstra — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:17:34 +0000

Way off topic….I just had a senior moment and forgot Anita’s husband’s first name. Can you supply it? (I used to be NZ Expat and went to grad school with Anita in the long past.)

By: ichbineinberliner

ichbineinberliner — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:01:51 +0000

Yes, we Europeans benefit militarily and, to a lesser degree, politically from the stationed US forces.

But there are no huge financial benefits. The German government for example pays roughly 120 million euros annually for the upkeep of the US bases, while the tax revenue (federal/state/local) from the US forces is estimated as around 25 million euros annually.

By: SouthernDragon

SouthernDragon — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:42:33 +0000

Tariq Ali, Flight Path to Disaster in Afghanistan.

By: selise

selise — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:35:24 +0000

exactly. love that song.

By: selise

selise — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:35:03 +0000

some of the economics is v complicated – way beyond my comprehension too. but some of it is not. like the the fight in the ’90s over the slightest bit of regulation for otc derivatives. some of it is just common sense. that’s the stuff i’m trying to focus on.

By: SouthernDragon

SouthernDragon — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:28:35 +0000

“We can bomb the world to pieces
But we can’t bomb the world to peace.”

By: lokywoky

lokywoky — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:27:54 +0000

Well, I guess that I hope that he really does set the policies in his administration instead of letting everyone else do it for him (like Bush). He seems to like to control everything and a couple of his recent statements are that the policy direction would come from him and him only, and that everyone else there was to do what he says (paraphrasing).

I don’t know enough about economics to judge these people, although I have been hearing about their histories. Unfortunately, most of the information is coming through the MSM and I don’t trust them to tell the truth without twisting it around to suit themselves so I really don’t know what to think. Anyway, all this stuff is way above my paygrade and I can’t do anything about it anyhow. I am choosing to be active in the healthcare front, and I am making sure I’m in the right group - thanks to you!

By: selise

selise — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:22:08 +0000

i agree about the importance of having devil’s advocates to prevent group think from setting in. but that’s not what i see obama doing (on the economic front) – he’s got a bunch of people who are ideologically similar and have had a role in creating our current mess. do not like this one bit.