This ongoing negotiations between US and Iraq is not being reported by US corporate television or, especially, local television but it certainly is being followed by the rest of the world's nations.  Since Mr. Bush is leaving office he simply doesn't care about what this nation used to stand for because he wants to lock in the US to Iraq for the next president. 

From McClatchy Washington Bureau, reporters Roy Gutman and Leila Fadel write:

BAGHDAD _ The U.S. military has warned Iraq that it will shut down military operations and other vital services throughout the country on Jan. 1 if the Iraqi government doesn't agree to a new agreement on the status of U.S. forces or a renewed United Nations mandate for the American mission in Iraq.

Many Iraqi politicians view the move as akin to political blackmail, a top Iraqi official told McClatchy Sunday.

In addition to halting all military actions, U.S. forces would cease activities that support Iraq’s economy, educational sector and other areas _ "everything" _ said Tariq al Hashimi, the country’s Sunni Muslim vice president. "I didn’t know the Americans are rendering such wide-scale services."

While readers on this site will be outraged.  It is time for our Senators to become involved.  In the past Mr. Bush has tried to circumvent the Senate's confirmation of treaties power.  This "Status of Forces Agreement" should roundly be condemned by Senators as a whole. 

The only way this will happen if we put some pressure on our Senators to make this an issue.

Ask them is it ethical to blackmail Iraq "partner" into a new agreement by the torture and blackmail President?  Ask them if "status of forces" agreement is a transparent attempt to circumvent the constitutional duty of the Senate to confirm "treaties"?

What do you think Senator Salazar would say?  Allard?  How about candidates Udall or Shaffer?