U.S., Iraq sign road map for future

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- A road map charting the future of the United States and Iraq, including the size and role of U.S. forces in the country, was signed Monday.

The non-binding pact signed by U.S. President George Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki "frames our emerging strategic relationship with Iraq," White House deputy national security adviser Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute said during a news briefing, and will set the agenda for the formal bilateral negotiations next year.

The size and scope of a U.S. presence in Iraq will be "a key matter for negotiation" between Iraq and the United States, Lute said.

When asked whether discussions would include a time line for withdrawing U.S. forces, Lute said, "What we expect this to do is set a bilateral mandate for the continued presence and missions performed by U.S. troops, and other coalition troops, as well, outside of the U.N. Security Council mandate."

Lute said the document was important for Iraq and the Gulf region because it demonstrates the Middle Eastern country is "increasingly able to stand on its own ... but it won't have to stand alone" and that the United States considers Iraq a "key strategic partner."