WE are negotiating long-range Mutual Defense Treaties with IRAQ.

Secretary Rice has commenced treaty negotiations with Iraq which will bind the next several administrations to stay there. These will likely include a) a Mutual Defense Treaty (an attack on Iraq is one on the U.S.), b) a long-term Economic Assistance treaty far exceeding the $1 trillion cost of the war for many years to come. c) a cost of maintaing permanent U.S. military facilities (already in construction), and d) a disposal of military equipment treaty that will probably leave all our weapons in Iraq permanently.

McCain has already signed on to these proposals by committing us to stay in Iraq for up to 100 years! All the other candidates want instant removal, and restoration of domestic economic equilibrium by reduced spending on Iraq.

These treaties are supreme to Constitutional law, and bind us all to remain in this quagmire that began with lies, continued with incompetance and corruption, and remains a false hope for early resolution.

The American people have a right to transparency as the scoundrels leave office. The candidates owe us a discussion about it---now!