Next Steps For Iraq?

From an AP story via Yahoo! News:

"Iraq's government, seeking protection against foreign threats and internal coups, will offer the U.S. a long-term troop presence in Iraq in return for U.S. security guarantees as part of a strategic partnership, two Iraqi officials said.

The proposal, described to The Associated Press by two senior Iraqi officials familiar with the issue, is one of the first indications that the United States and Iraq are beginning to explore what their relationship might look like once the U.S. significantly draws down its troop presence."

I think the only way to get this to really work is to put it to a national Iraqi referendum. I know I'd feel better if the Iraqi people actually voted that they want us there, rather than see us as occupiers, and maybe the U.S. could reclaim some amount of international standing.
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