Obama can’t withdraw troops before one year unless Iraq agrees – expert

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Legal expert Tareq Harb on Wednesday said that new U.S. President Barack Obama can not withdraw his troops from Iraq before one year from notifying the Iraqi side, noting that he can withdraw the forces only if the Iraqi government agrees. Commenting on Obama’s speech upon taking office, Harb said “the president vowed to withdraw troops from Iraq but he did not mention the articles of the agreement in this respect.” “The agreement stipulates the withdrawal of troops in one year after notifying the Iraqi side,” he said, noting that the agreement does not allow the withdrawal before this period unless the Iraqi government agrees. New U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that the United States will leave Iraq to Iraqis. In a speech upon taking office, Obama echoed key promises from his historic election campaign by saying: “we will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people.” Yesterday, Barack Hussein Obama took the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States. SH (S) 1