The United States Bush administration is warning of "real consequences" for Iraq if it rejects a newly negotiated security pact, the Associated Press reported.
Without a deal, the U.S. could be forced to end its military operations.
The White House says Iraqi security forces are incapable of keeping the peace without U.S. troops, raising the specter of reversals in recent security and political gains if the proposed security deal is not approved by the time the current legal basis for U.S. military operations
expires Dec. 31.
At the Pentagon, press secretary Geoff Morrell said the U.S. fallback position is to extend the U.N. Security Council mandate authorizing U.S.-led coalition operations in Iraq, but he emphasized that the Bush administration's preference is to complete a bilateral U.S.-Iraqi agreement.