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SOFA's Unintended Consequences
Might the Bush administration's secretive quest to complete the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) in Iraq trigger political reconciliation? In a roundabout way, the administration's strategic myopia in pursuing the SOFA has created a political rethink in Iraq that might just create a sustainable framework for national accommodation.
That's because the ill-conceived SOFA/SFA has been met with fierce opposition by a number of Iraqi political groups. In a recent Boston Globe article, New America's Daniel Levy argues this might not be such a bad thing. The unintended consequence of America's over-reach is a new Iraqi nationalist consensus that has brought Sunni, Shi'ite, and secular Iraqi parties together.
This nascent coalition could be the key to building a sustainable political culture, preserving the country's territorial integrity, and curbing excessive Iranian interference. At a minimum, it would stem the excesses of an American regional strategy built around a heavy and sustained military presence.
SOFA/SFA in Iraq
Unfortunately our country does not have a good reputation with our current host countries in regards to SOFA's. A good look at Japan, Italy, Germany, and South Korea to a name few and will see their position on SOFA's has been so abused as to seriously impact our relations with those countries. We should look at eliminating the use of SOFA's until such time as we can frame the agreements in such a way that is not demeaning or embarrassing for the host country. All the SOFA does is allows the DOD to influence and lead foreign policy. The DOD does not provide a good return on the dollars the US citizen would have to invest. Our military would continue to be a target for attacks and thus justify continue spending if not increased spending to defend the aggression aimed at men and women in uniform.
I think now would be a good time to transfer the future relations with Iraq, (and even other country's), to the STATE DEPARTMENT. We need to move away from militarism and return to some semblance of diplomacy led by civilians, not ex-military. A result of such action will have the added benefit of pulling down the DOD budget instead of inflating it even more.
I would strongly recommend reading any of the books in the trilogy written by Chalmers Johnson in his empire series. He has provided some excellent facts and arguements, that I agree with, that would point away from use of SOFA's or SFA's. You may want to read his most recent book about the economy too.
For myself, a former DOD/NSA employee, I am deeply disturbed about giving the DOD any more power than it has already taken.
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