A Pact to end U.S. occupation

Today is a historic day. Our parlaiment approved a pact that will put an end of the foreign troops on the Iraqi land. Here are some of the Iraqi reactions on the pact from different parts of the country :

Ali Hussein, 59, a merchant from Basra

I am so excited about the approval of this pact by the Iraqi parliament because I see that the Americans won’t be in a picnic and they’ve got some political and economical interests that they won’t give away. From the other side, the Iraqi troops have the ability to keep security and stability in this country, though the Iraqi government is not capable of controlling the political process in Iraq, Some Iraqi politicians are really controlling the Iraqi policy and they forget that they are in their positions because of the Americans, and without them Saddam Hussein would be still be in his black comedy in Iraq.

Ismael al Basri of Basra

I reject this pact totally and the parliament today made a great mistake by approving it. Deals have been done under the parliament building. We know that thousands of people reject this treaty. The American benefits are achieved by this pact and I don’t see any benefits for the Iraqi people. It is a long-term occupation for this oppressed country.

Karim Chackayoi, 50, a Baghdad governmental employee

I am for approving this pact because it is the only way to Iraq out of the (United Nations mandate) and bringing back the sovereignty to Iraq. It is the only to have the foreign troops out of the country, and it will give Iraq a path to rebuild the country and the society itself. If we don’t have it, we’ll have a security gap, which will be so dangerous and it will encourage the neighboring countries to interfere in Iraqi affairs.

Awadh Abdan, 40, of Basra

In all my prayers, we respect the parliament because it is the official point of view and they are the representatives of the people. We were hoping that the vote will have some delay and to have some more time to discuss it. We are unsatisfied and we’ll have a kind of referendum to approve or not approve this pact.

Sabah al Shejiri, 34, a Baghdad taxi driver

I'm not really happy with the approval of the (security agreement). In fact I'm really sad because we signed on the occupation. I don't believe the (security agreement) will be good for iraq. The political blocs signed it just for their own interests. The agreement has no interest for the future of Iraq.

Ammar al Samurrai, 37, an unemployed man in Baghdad

I feel good. We should get rid of the (United Nations mandate). We shouldn't be under that anymore. In fact, we should have a coalition with a real strong country. This is the best thing we can have. I'm not satisfied with it but I have to accept that this is the best choice.

Lamyaa al Kafaji, 38, a Baghdad governmental employee

We Iraqis have no opinion and we cannot effect anything. The United States specified some points and the United States had an aim and it did it. Now they have the agreement. The government accepted to work with the Americans. So the best apology for the people is to start the rebuilding of Iraq. The agreement for the (security pact) will be useful. At least the Americans will try to fix and build some of the destruction they caused.

Hassan Salman, 28, of Baghdad

The Sadrists performed a mockery in parliament. I'm for the agreement because it is organizing the withdrawal of American troops. We should sign this agreement because without it there is no withdrawal from Iraq. In addition to that the agreement presents a protection for Iraq's security and economy.

Fatima Mahmood, 33, of Baghdad

What happened in parliament is a democratic experience that happens in many countries. I'm with the agreement because it arranges the relations between Iraq and America . Iit is the best solution for the situation in Iraq.

Ahmed Hassan, 24, of Baghdad

I am for approving the pact because we have the withdrawal guarantees. I think it is so good to have it at this time because we have discussions, negotiations, some debate. If we have delays, maybe the new president will object to any kind of a pact, and maybe he will withdraw his troops without a timetable and it will have bad effects on Iraq. But I don’t understand why we have this agreement among the Iraqi blocs, if we have this pact between Iraq and America, why do we have Iraqis debating among each other? Iraq achieved many things that many countries did not achieve. For example, the security companies don’t have the immunity they had in the past. I know that the mail is one of the difficult things that America was against, but America knows everything. Their hands are everywhere in Iraq.

Ghasan Mohammed, Dihok, 26

I am with this agreement, especially that this agreement will block the way of those who call themselves a resistance to the occupiers because we will have this agreement and the troops won’t stay in Iraq. We’ll have the same situation as many Arab states do, as they have bases for the Americans.

Bassim Mohammed Sharif, Najaf, 32

Signing the agreement is better than not signing it because it will free us and we’ll get rid of (the United Nations mandate), and it will let the American troops be out of Iraq. We’ll achieve the sovereignty, which was put away from Iraqis. This is a happy thing, even though it will have some negative things in this agreement, like the immunity for the American troops. If we have it, it will be better than if we don’t.
Inside Iraq