Iraq to Be Even More Open to U.S. Investment; Press Yawns

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Here’s the full text of the joint Bush-Maliki agreement on principles for a long-term U.S. security commitment to Iraq. There’s some hilarious obfuscatorese on the question of bases and troop levels. (“Support will be provided consistent with mechanisms and arrangements to be established in the bilateral cooperation agreements mentioned herein” — in context, I promise, that translates to “let’s worry about defining the U.S. troop presence in the final agreement.”) But take a look at this key economics “principle”:

Facilitating and encouraging the flow of foreign investments to Iraq, especially American investments, to contribute to the reconstruction and rebuilding of Iraq.

In fairness, it’s the job of the U.S. in bilateral negotiations to try to win the most favorable investment environment for American business. But that’s not so difficult when your military is keeping your negotiating partners, you know, alive. Already $6 billion worth of Iraq contracts are under criminal review. How much more Iraqi business could flow to Americans? It’s hard to say, but it looks like Stuart Bowen will have a long, long career ahead of him.

It would have been nice to get some elaboration on this at today’s White House press briefing. But according to TPM’s Ben Craw — our intrepid and dashing video editor, who watched the briefing while I goofed off — the press corps didn’t bother asking Dana Perino about any aspect of the Bush-Maliki deal. Sure, General Lute chatted briefly with reporters during the morning gaggle, but he didn’t remotely answer every question — after all, the text of the agreement wasn’t even available then.

Guys, come on: I know the Annapolis Mideast peace conference is a big deal, but this is the next phase of the war we’re talking about. Clearly the White House’s strategy of dumping the Bush-Maliki deal ahead of Annapolis worked.

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