Rice: 'Status of forces' crucial for Iraq

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. secretary of state said the next crucial phase in the mission in Iraq is normalizing relationships with the country in a "status of forces" agreement.

Condoleezza Rice said in The Washington Post that as Iraqis begin to stand on their own to reaffirm their sovereignty and build diplomatic and trade relations with other nations in the Middle East, the Iraqi people need a "more normal relationship" with the United States.

Rice said the next "crucial phase in this process" will be the development of a "status of forces" agreement between the United States, through the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad, Ryan Crocker, and the Iraqi government.

The U.N. mandate authorizing the U.S. and international presence in Iraq expires at the end of 2008, and the Iraqi government said it will not seek to extend that mandate.

Rice said U.S. interests in the region require the United States to have the freedom to operate, both in its fight against al-Qaida and in its effort in helping Iraqi authorities develop an effective government, beyond 2008.

Tom Casey, the deputy spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said in early February that the post-U.N. mandate defining ties between the United States and Iraq won't be a "NATO-like treaty commitment."

Rice echoed those statements, stressing, "Nothing to be negotiated will mandate that we continue combat missions. Nothing will set troop levels. Nothing will commit the United States to join Iraq in a war against another country or provide other such security commitments. And nothing will authorize permanent bases in Iraq (something neither we nor Iraqis want)."

The Iraqi and U.S. governments see 2008 as a significant year of transition, and Rice said it is the responsibility of Washington to "be part of a foundation of success in Iraq."