White House praises Iraq security pact

The White House on Thursday praised Iraq’s presidential council for
approving a security pact that allows U.S. troops to remain in the country for
three more years.

{mosads}“Today is a remarkable achievement for both of our countries,” White
House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters. “We’ve been working on these
negotiations for just about a year. And so we’re glad to see it reach a
positive conclusion.”

The Iraqi council approved the security pact and a broader cooperative
agreement that covers the diplomatic, economic and political relationship
between the two countries. Iraq’s parliament had passed both pacts last week.

Perino said that passage of the deals shows that Iraq is making strides
but also will continue to need U.S. help “for the next little while.”

“But we have a path now to help our troops get home. And we are already
bringing troops home,” she stated. “And we’re going to be able to continue to
do that as long as we solidify the gains that we’ve made.”

Asked whether the team of President-elect Obama had indicated whether
the incoming administration would honor the security pact, which would require
U.S. combat troops to leave Iraqi cities in the middle of next year, Perino
said: “I haven’t heard anything different, but, of course, I can’t speak for
them. But I think that they welcomed it as well.”