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There are still several factors that could derail the Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and Iraq.

Chaos broke out in the Iraqi parliament for a second day Nov. 20 as deliberations over a security pact between the United States and Iraq continued. On Nov. 16, the Iraqi Cabinet passed the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which sets Dec. 31, 2011, as a firm withdrawal date for U.S. forces in Iraq. The agreement must now pass a Nov. 24 parliament vote before the Iraqi president and his two deputies can officially ratify it.

If the SOFA passes, the United States will have a legally approved military presence in Iraq for at least the next three years to consolidate gains made thus far in the security situation, and to sustain a blocking force against neighboring Iran. While U.S. authority in Iraq will be substantially circumscribed under the revised draft of the SOFA, the pact sets in place a strategic partnership between Baghdad and Washington for the longer term, thereby serving U.S. interests in maintaining a foothold in the region and keeping the Iranians at bay.