WASHINGTON , --
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani asked for a long-term
US military presence in Iraq, in an interview,
saying his country will need two permanent US air
bases to deter "foreign interference".
He did not elaborate on the nature of the threat,
but his remarks contained an indication he had in
mind neighboring Iran.
"I think we will be in need of American forces for a
long time -- even two military bases to prevent
foreign interference," Talabani told The Washington
Post. "I don't ask to have 100,000 American soldiers
-- 10,000 soldiers and two air bases would be
enough."
The president, a Kurd, made clear the bases would be
most welcome in Kurdistan, an autonomous region in
northern Iraq that has practiced de facto
self-government since the 1991 Gulf War.
But he suggested that the Sunni Arab segment of the
Iraqi population would also be receptive of the
idea. |
US President George W. Bush (R) gestures during a
meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, 19
September in New York
Photo:AFP |
|
"In some places Sunnis want the Americans to stay,"
he argued. "Sunnis think the main danger is coming
from
Iran now."
The comments come as top US military commanders
admitted the United States will not be able to
reduce its 147,000-strong contingent in Iraq in the
coming months because of spreading sectarian
violence and the possibility of the country slipping
into civil war.
US Central Command head General John Abizaid told
reporters last week any previous plans to draw down
US troops in Iraq had been put off until at least
next spring, and the force level might even go up.
Echoing his concern, US Senator John McCain, a
powerful member of the Senate Armed Services
Committee, suggested Sunday sending an additional
20,000 to 30,000 US troops to Iraq due to spreading
violence.
Several congressional leaders have in the past
raised the possibility of the United States
acquiring long-term basing rights in Iraq, but so
far the administration of President George W. Bush
has not announced any concrete steps in this
direction.
Talabani met with Bush last week.
The Iraqi leader predicted that by the end of this
year the number of provinces under the control of
fledgling Iraqi security forces will grow to 12. But
he acknowledged that his government will still need
a sizable contingent of American and coalition
forces in the rest of the country until at least the
end of 2008.
"I think within two years we will be able to train
our army and have the capacity to face terrorism,"
Talabani said.
However, he insisted that the presence of US forces
beyond that point, "even a symbolic one, will
frighten those who are trying to interfere in our
affairs."
Talabani made a concerted effort to avoid direct
criticism of Iran, which is closely tied to key
Shiite militias operating in the country.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who traveled to
Tehran last week, has received firm Iranian
assurances that "any kind of interference" in the
internal affairs of Iraq will not be permitted, he
said.
But Abizaid disclosed last week that a new armor-busting
rocket-propelled grenade believed to be of Iranian
origin has shown up in Iraq in what may be "a hint
about things to come".
The US general said the weapon, an RPG-29, has a
dual warhead and has proved effective against most
types of armored vehicles.
"The first time we saw it was not in Iraq. We saw it
in Lebanon. So to me it indicates, number one, an
Iranian connection," Abizaid pointed out.
In an interview with the same paper published
Sunday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
assured of his country's commitment to Iraq's
internal security, but spoke strongly against any
foreign military presence there.
"The Iraqi nation has deep roots, an ancient,
civilized culture," Ahmadinejad said. "It cannot
accept to remain under occupation."
AFP
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