The White House on Thursday said that it intends to work with the U.S. Congress on an agreement that would set the framework for a bilateral strategic partnership between Iraq and the United States. White House press secretary Dana Perino's comments were centered on the United States and Iraq's bilateral effort to institute the “Strategic Framework Agreement.” The agreement preceded the Declaration of Principles that was discussed on August 26, 2007 between U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki. The “Declaration of Principles has its roots in the Iraqi leader's requests for a long-term bilateral relationship” with the United States, Lieutenant Douglas Lute said during a November 26, 2007 White House press briefing. Bush accepted the concept by September of 2007 and moved on the “three-step process that actually codifies this mutual decision for a long-term partnership,” between the two countries that will then move to renew the United Nations Security Council mandate for another year. The White House on Thursday addressed the last of the three steps which is finalizing the Strategic Framework Agreement. The agreement, which was described by Lute as “not binding,” was initially set to contain “a political-diplomatic segment…a segment dealing with economic affairs, and then a security segment.” Currently, U.S. Ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker is the lead negotiator on the agreement, which Perino described as a “very important” piece of legislation. Perino said that not only would the agreement provide a “secure environment for our [U.S.] troops to work under a legal framework,” in Iraq, but, she also said that “the Iraqis want it [the agreement],” and “Iraq's Arab neighbors want it.” When asked about if this agreement would still be in implementation for the next U.S. president, Perino said that it would and that “this agreement would help whoever the next president is.” She also added that the agreement “would not ties the hands” of the next U.S. president.
