U.S. and Iraq Agree to 2011 Withdraw Date

Washington and Baghdad have reached an agreement that would require U.S. forces to withdraw from Iraq by 2011. The bilateral pact replaces a U.N. Security Council resolution enacted after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 and will give Iraq's elected government authority over the U.S. troop presence for the first time. Iraq will have the right to prosecute U.S. soldiers for serious crimes under certain circumstances. The final draft of the agreement had been agreed by both sides and would require U.S. troops to leave by the end of 2011, unless Iraq asks them to stay longer. For troops to stay longer, a new pact would need to be agreed. Obama wants to withdraw combat troops by mid-2010, while Republican John McCain opposes deadlines. The pact will not require approval by the U.S. Congress.