Given what we have learned thus far this semester, I find it difficult to believe that the U.S. military will actually be completely out of Iraq by 2011. It seems very rare that the U.S. leaves any strategic location willingly, especially one in as critical an area as Iraq. Even Barak Obama has said that he is interested in leaving residual forces in Iraq beyond the SOFA deadline, and I would be very surprised if some sort of agreement were not worked out in the future to arrange for an extended U.S. military presence in some capacity.
As for the SOFA as it stands right now, based on what I know I am for the most part satisfied and pleased. I don't think that those who are against an extended U.S. presence in Iraq could have expected any better, and though there will undoubtedly be considerably more debate over the issue down the road, I think it is a good first step. A Korea-like basing policy in Iraq would only create many of the same problems that we see in Korea--not to mention in other base locations around the world--and would likely not provide worthwhile security to the United States, especially given all the other bases already in the region.
Increasing our global military footprint seems to me to be the opposite of what the U.S. should be doing right now. Our military is already overstretched and its presence often strains foreign relations and views towards the U.S. rather than improves them. We must be careful to respect the wishes of the Iraqi government and people regarding future U.S. military presence in their country or we will likely cause greater problems than we solve.
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The agreement seemed like it was a positive step to me as well. It is good that Iraqis will have more control over their own country, and be able to restrict US forces somewhat. The fact that there is an actual date for withdrawal almost seems hard to believe and I am somewhat skeptical as well. The main area where the agreement could use improvement in my opinion is in giving the Iraqi government a greater ability to prosecute US soldiers and civilians. If people committ war crimes they should have to answer for it, and I have little confidence in any sort of US court martial system, since it has let soldiers off with little or no punishment after committing horrible crimes.
I am also skeptical that we will actually remove forces by 2011. Even if the US lacks the UN's approval to stay in Iraq, this may not matter as they did not have the UN's approval to go in in the first place. The thing that angered me most in these readings was how President Bush's executive authority of this issue extends beyond his term as President. The articles refer to this as handcuffing for President-elect Obama since any alterations to the SOFA has to be agreed upon by both countries and cancellation of the agreement requires a year's notice. Because of this, it is almost impossible for Obama to alter the SOFA; he is forced to continue what President Bush has started. Because of the impossibility to ratify the SOFA, it seems that we will have to keep troops in longer.
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