The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) has cleared all hurdles inside the Iraqi government. It will take effect at the beginning of the year. The people will have the ultimate say in a referendum scheduled for the summer, but even if they vote it down, the Americans will have a year to leave. I’ve been wanting to write something about the agreement and its shortcomings, but I want to have my facts straight. I hope to do that soon… 

Writing these posts isn’t always fun… I’m sure my methods will evolve over time, but for now it’s important to continue. I didn’t quite realize it at the time, but I started doing this when attacks in Iraq fell to their lowest monthly level since the invasion. But the week after the SOFA was ratified by parliament, there were over 80 people killed (and I’m not  counting Americans).*

Nov 28: The day after Iraq’s parliament ratified the SOFA, a suicide bomber killed at least nine people in a Shia mosque. Such attacks (after Friday prayers) appeared to have subsided…  In further signs of discord within the political establishment, the federal government is disputing the legality of Kurdish oil contracts.

Nov 29:  Two UN contractors were killed in a rocket attack inside the Green Zone.  At least three Iraqis were also killed in other attacks around the country. In other news, Iraq’s highest ranking cleric expressed valid concerns with the SOFA, but said he would leave it for the Iraqi people to decide. 

Nov 30: A strengthening relationship between Iran and Iraq helped facilitated the latest exchange of bodies between the two countries. Meanwhile, UN officials were focusing on ensuring a smooth election process in January.

Dec 1: Explosions around the country left over thirty Iraqis dead and dozens more wounded. A group of NPR journalists escaped what looked like an apparent assassination attempt in a rough part of town. In other news, Turkish planes reportedly bombed PKK positions inside Iraq. Back in the US of A, W made an admission (toz).

Dec 2: Saddam’s cousin received his second death penalty. Sadly, on that same day, no less than 14 Iraqis had their own death sentences carried out.

Dec 3: US forces continued to make strides towards Iran, but otherwise no notable news events were reported.

Dec 4: The same day the Iraqi Presidential Council approved the SOFA, 22 Iraqis were killed, at least 15 of them in simultaneous attacks on two police stations in Falluja.

* By no means are these posts comprehensive. I’m only focusing on what’s reported in the news, specifically as it affects Iraqis. Every now and then, something else catches my attention and I include it, but if I leave some things out that does not mean they are insignificant… This is just a humble attempt to remember Iraq from an Iraqi perspective.

Related posts:

1. Remembering Iraq (Nov 21 – 27)
2. Remembering Iraq (Nov 7 – 13)
3. Remembering Iraq (Nov 14 – 20)
4. Iraq’s deadliest month in 2 years
5. More thoughts on Iraq…