Been doing a lot of reading this morning trying to keep up with the mess Bush has created. Sistani had a good point about the caucus:
<<Opposition from Al-Sistani, the country's most prominent Shiite cleric, derailed a U.S. plan to choose the legislators in regional caucuses, which many Shiites feared would allow the Americans to manipulate the process. Most Governing Council members no longer back the caucus formula.
It was the second time that the elderly, Iranian-born al-Sistani has forced the Americans to revise their power transfer plans. Last June, al-Sistani issued a fatwa, or edict, saying the constitution must be drafted by delegates chosen in an election, a process the Americans feared would take too long.>>
http://www.headliner.nl/headliner.php?c=us&id=325737&abbr=apWhy Bush and Co. don't want free elections--YET
From what I understand, if elections were held and we were told to get out we would have to get out. Good heavens what would happen to Halliburton? From what I have read so far, we intend to stay.
>>The legal basis for U.S. troops operating in any foreign country is normally spelled out in a legal arrangement called a status of forces agreement, which defines legal protections for U.S. troops accused of crimes in that country. Without it, U.S. troops in Iraq would be subject to local Iraqi law, once the U.S. occupation authority is ended and a government is restored. >>
http://www.headliner.nl/headliner.php?c=us&id=325616&abbr=ap