Not a Comfy SOFA

"We Do Bad Things to Bad People"
--T-shirt for the "Bush Hogs,"
3 Bn 20th Special Forces Group (Abn.) [AL]

Democracy and capitalism are the two great pillars
of the American idea.
To have rocked one of those pillars
may be regarded as a misfortune.
To have damaged the reputation of both, at home and abroad,
is a pretty stunning achievement for an American president
--Boris Johnson, U.K. Telegraph

There's been a load of compromisin'
On the road to my horizon
But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me
--Rhinestone Cowboy, Glen Campbell
________________

In "Bush Team Pushes Hard for Iraq Security Deal" we read,

The Bush administration has launched a top-level lobbying campaign to persuade skeptical U.S. lawmakers and disapproving Iraqi politicians to support a security agreement governing the continued presence of American troops in Iraq.

Although congressional approval is not legally required U.S. lawmakers' support is considered crucial for an agreement to go forward. In Iraq, where the deal must pass through several complex layers of approval, the going is considered even tougher.

If Congressional approval is not needed to ratify this Status of Forces of treaty, then is the U.S. still a constitutional democracy?

Is Iraq a country? The U.S.? Is an agreement between countries not a "treaty"? Are treaties not to be ratified by Congress?

In Slate's "Bush's Final Illusion -- the President's Agreement with Iraq Bypasses Congress. Again," writers Ackerman and Hathaway accuse Bush of making an unconstitutional claim to the unilateral right to commit the U.S. to his agreement. Why are members of this Congress behaving like they are presidential lapdogs? Do they get special rhinestone collars for this?

General Ray Odierno accused Iran of bribing Iraqi parliamentary members to reject the SOFA pact when it comes up for a vote (A Critical Stage in Iraq.) How does one decide the difference in degrees of criminality when one takes the hubristic stance of accusing another of criminal malfeasance? Surely bribing a parliament is bad.

But how about bypassing their authority entirely?