US Military Needs Search Warrants...Now Iraq's Police Force

In the Status of Forces Agreement I just posted to this blog, there is a section that states American Military forces cannot search a home without a search warrant issued by the Iraqi's, and cannot DETAIN anyone, including terrorists. Lending credence to the SOFA agreement I posted as being an accurate reflection of what George Bush has agreed too, seems that the Washington Times has just reported that US Troops need to have an Iraqi issued search warrant to search a home or business in Iraq beginning next month...in short, welcome to Vietnam II, as America's military has just been reduced to worse than a police force, they have been reduced to the equivalent of Mall Security.

EXCLUSIVE: U.S. to begin using search warrants in Iraq

Status-of-forces agreement might require authorization

Richard Tomkins
Thursday, November 20, 2008

BAGHDAD Some U.S. troops in Iraq could begin applying for warrants before detaining terrorist suspects or searching Iraqi homes as soon as Dec. 1 -- a month before they might become required to do so under a new status-of-forces agreement.

ASSOCIATED PRESS COURT ORDERS: U.S. soldiers search an Iraqi home Thursday. They may first need a warrant signed by an Iraqi judge under a new status-of-forces agreement between Washington and Baghdad, which still requires approval from the Iraqi legislature.

Military sources, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the topic, said at least some units of the 4th Infantry Division in Baghdad would begin obtaining warrants from Iraqi legal authorities next month before making arrests or searching homes for weapons caches and other contraband in noncombat situations.

U.S. military officials would not confirm or deny the report.

According to the sources, discussions have been held between some U.S. military officials and their Iraqi counterparts on procedures the soldiers will have to follow to get the warrants. Thus far, no guidelines have been issued, the sources said.

"I really don't know how it is going to work out," said Maj. Geoff Greene, executive officer of the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, which operates in east Baghdad. "I don't know how to get them yet," he said of the warrants, adding that he expects to "receive guidance soon."