SOFA Protests

Flickr photo by soldiersmediacenter under a Creative Commons license. Moktada al-Sadr is organizing protests in Iraq against U.S. negotiations with the Iraqi government to agree to terms on a status of forces agreement (SOFA) to take effect when the existing UN mandate expires at the end of the year. The nature of the SOFA and the strategic framework, which outlines U.S. commitments to Iraq, will be an important issue in the parliamentary elections in the fall. The issue appears to resonate with Iraqis and concern over the agreement extends beyond Sadr's base of supporters. Ayatollah Sistani has called for a referendum on the agreement. Particularly worrisome for the current Iraqi leaders should be the prospect of the issue uniting Sunni and Shiite parties in opposition to a long-term U.S. presence.