Iraq cabinet opposes U.S. security deal

And with good reason

Key members of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s cabinet say the proposed U.S.-Iraq status of forces deal has too much leeway for U.S. forces to stay beyond 2011. Some even want a “Plan B” to already be drafted under the possibility the current agreement won’t pass parliamentary muster.

The current condition requires U.S. troops to be out by the end of 2011, but allows for adjustments per conditions in Iraq.

That’s a huge loophole.

Who determines the conditions that trigger timetable changes?

Maliki? Obama? Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs? Petraeus, head of CentCom?

What if there’s disagreement within U.S. leaders? Or, more importantly, between Americans and Iraqis? Does the dead weight of U.S. forces already/still in Iraq settle the argument?