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Talabani
stressed, however, that Iraq still needs U.S. forces
to fight against terrorism. "And we are in need of
some American forces to frighten our neighbors and
prevent them from interfering in our internal
affairs," he said.
He warned that a quick withdrawal of American and
multinational forces "could lead to the victory of
the terrorists in Iraq and create grave threats to
the region, the United States and the civilized
world."
Later, at the Pentagon, after a meeting with Defense
Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Talabani again raised
the prospect of a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. "I say
that within two years, all American forces can
leave," he said.
But he qualified the statement this time, saying
Iraq would want a small American presence in two or
three bases.
"Not a big number," Talabani said. "Only the
presence enough to prevent others from interfering
in our internal affairs."
Rumsfeld, meanwhile, made it clear he would not
discuss a timetable for U.S. troops to leave Iraq
until a new constitution was adopted and a new
government was in place in Baghdad.
"Our goal is to assist the Iraqi people in taking
hold of their country and assisting them in
developing their security forces so they can provide
for their own security," Rumsfeld said.
"The president of Iraq is free to say whatever he
wishes, and he has done so. And I am not president
of anything, and I am not free to say anything, and
therefore I have not," he said.
Americans are growing more critical of President
Bush's Iraq policy, several polls have shown. Sen.
Russell Feingold, D-Wis., has called for a deadline
for the removal of U.S. military forces from Iraq.
On Friday, Talabani described Iraq's quest for
stability as difficult and said he was skeptical of
Iraq's Arab neighbors. "All Arab media without
exception are supporting terrorism," he asserted.
"Such states need to engage with us against
terrorism."
The Iraqi president, who will meet with Bush next
week, was upbeat on the prospects of uniting the
country's ethnic groups.
"In the new Iraq, unlike the old regime, the state
is based on the principle of inclusion, not
exclusion," said Talabani, a Kurd. "Iraq will be for
all Iraqis who have the vision of a democratic,
pluralistic, federated country."
Reaching out to Sunni Arabs, many of whom questioned
the provisions of a newly written constitution,
Talabani said, "We will make any reasonable
concession and use very waking hour to bring all,
particularly the Sunni Arabs, into the fold."
But, he said, "we cannot bend so far that we break
apart Iraqi democracy."
AP
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