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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

I guess after watching how much the Iraqis extracted out of the US in their SoFA negotiations, the Afghanis figure they ought to try to get one, too.

That was my thinking too. Of course the Afghans don't have so much bargaining power. I think one reason the SOFA in Iraq is getting settled is because the Iraqis are signing oil contracts with China and Russia.

By Anonymous, at 9:00 AM
The leverage the Afghanis have is less, especially politically back here, but they could make things much messier. The hitch for the Afghanis is that, unlike the Iraqis, the enemies are not their own militias. It's not like the Afghani government will help out the Taleban, whereas the Iraqis can dial their support of the Shia militias up and down.

And, in Iraq, oil contracts are part of it, certainly, but the end of the UN mandate and US politics are also pressuring.

Plus, there's the very big Bush incentive to be able to claim some resolution out of Iraq before he leaves.

By mikevotes, at 10:49 AM