One untold story about the security pact that the Iraqi cabinet approved today is the role of Iran. Mary Beth Sheridan's article in the Washington Post leaves this clue:

[T]he accord was attacked by Iraqi politicians when a near-final draft was distributed last month. Some explained their turnabout this week by noting that the U.S. government had accepted last-minute changes demanded by the Iraqi Cabinet.

The changes were mostly minor, according to people close to the negotiations, but may have allowed Iraqi politicians to portray themselves as driving a tough bargain. Lawmakers are wary of appearing too pro-American, and some faced pressure from Iran, which strongly opposes the accord, Iraqi officials and analysts said.

Sheridan reported in October on the Iranian pressure, which allegedly included "attempting to bribe Iraqi lawmakers," according to the U.S. military.

Assuming the deal passes Parliament, the odd man out would appear to be radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose spokesman said he was "shocked and surprised by this approval, which expresses devotion to the occupation by agreeing to the mandate the occupier wanted." Sadr's threat Friday to resume attacks if the agreement passed doesn't seem to have swayed too many votes: The cabinet approved the measure 27-1.