Status of forces

In brief, then, it looks like a good deal for both sides.

That comes with a big qualifier, however: The public has not yet seen the final version of the agreement, although a draft was leaked last month. Plus, there's a companion pact, called a strategic framework agreement, that also has not been fully disclosed. Finally, the Iraqi parliament must approve the status of forces agreement for it to take effect.

Those big reservations aside, we note with satisfaction that the agreement gives the United States something that President Bush had stoutly resisted: a deadline for withdrawal. What's more, it provides that U.S. combat forces will withdraw from Iraqi cities, towns and villages by June 30, 2009.

Admittedly, that earlier deadline could be a two-edged sword. It would make U.S. forces a ready reserve that the Iraqi government could call on in a pinch. But it also may make it more difficult for U.S. troops to operate effectively in concert with their Iraqi allies.

Some analysts believe that these deadlines will give President-elect Barack Obama more flexibility in Iraq than he would have had otherwise. The date certain in 2011 gives him a longer time to keep U.S. troops in Iraq than his campaign promise to withdraw all forces from combat in the 16 months after his inauguration. But, there reportedly is nothing in the agreement to prevent a faster withdrawal if things go well.

How well things go will depend largely on the Iraqis themselves. Security in the country is much improved, generally, but some areas of deadly unrest remain, particularly Mosul. The government has announced provincial elections for Jan. 31, which should bring more Sunnis into parliament. But that does not guarantee that the many outstanding disputes between Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds can be bridged.

Still, things look much brighter today than they did a year ago. That's something, too.