The deal detailing the conditions of the U.S. presence still needs parliamentary approval, and lawmakers could vote as soon as Nov. 24. For Iraqis, the breakthrough was bittersweet because they won concessions from the Americans but must accept the presence of U.S. troops until 2012.
The document was amended to prohibit the Americans from using Iraqi territory to attack neighboring nations to allay the fears of Iraq’s neighbors.
The Cabinet vote came a day after Iraq’s most influential Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, indicated he would not object to the pact if it passes by a comfortable majority in parliament.
