ARI SHAPIRO, Host:
America's second ranking diplomat, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, is in Iraq on an unannounced visit. Iraqi and American officials have been saying for weeks that a deal governing the operation of U.S. troops in Iraq is very close. In a press conference in Baghdad today, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said bold political decisions are needed to overcome final hurdles. Negroponte would say only that both countries are pursuing the issue from the point of view of their own national self interest. One sticking point is immunity for U.S. troops. The Iraqis want legal jurisdiction over American soldiers, and the U.S. disagrees. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
