Iraqi Sovereignty?

The Iraqi parliament has passed an agreement that declares a full US withdrawal of its military by 2011 and makes an unabiguous statement about Iraqi sovereignty. This agreement sounds like a big deal, but you have to search to find it. This from the International Herald-Tribune.

"This is the day of our sovereignty," said Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.

"Together we will go forward toward a free, prosperous and glorious Iraq, where Iraqis can live with pride and dignity and can be proud that they are sons of this beloved country," he said.

....

The timetable set out in the document requires U.S. troops to withdraw from cities and towns by June 30, 2009, and for all troops to leave by the end of 2011 unless the Iraqis and Americans negotiate a separate pact to govern an extension of the American military presence.

I hope this goes smoothly. A messy emergency evacuation by the Americans and then a retaliatory sectarian slaughter afterwards a-la Vietnam is a scary scenario.

UPDATE: From the reaction of the few people I've talked to about this, I should file it in the "Who Gives a Damn" section. Amazing how bored people are with it.