|
General: Stabilized Iraq may take decade
18.6.2007
|
|
|
|
June
18, 2007
WASHINGTON - Stabilizing Iraq could take as
long as a decade, says the U.S. commander in
Baghdad.
"In fact, typically, I think historically,
counterinsurgency operations have gone at least nine
or 10 years," Gen. David Petraeus said Sunday. "The
question is, of course, at what level."
His comments came as Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice prepared to meet with Iraqi foreign minister
Hoshyar Zebari on Monday in Washington.
Petraeus said insurgents pushing back on newly
aggressive coalition military forces have led to
continued violence in Iraq, describing an
ebb-and-flow of sectarian murders in Baghdad.
"The fact is that as we go on the offensive, the
enemy is going to respond," Petraeus said. "That is
what has happened."
Petraeus also described a "stunning reversal" in the
Anbar province, a former al-Qaida stronghold west of
the city where tribes have begun to help fight the
terror organization. |
General David H. Petraeus smiles during a change of
command ceremony in the heavily fortified Green Zone
area in Baghdad, AP |
A Pentagon report released last week concluded that
violence in Iraq edged higher during a four-month
period between February and May — despite the
U.S.-led security push in Baghdad.
The report also raised questions about Iraqi Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki's ability to fulfill a
pledge made in January to prohibit political
interference in security operations and to allow no
safe havens for sectarian militias.
Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad, on
Sunday called the situation in Iraq "a mixed
picture, but certainly not a hopeless one." He noted
frustrations among signs of progress, and cautioned
against withdrawing troops too soon.
Also Sunday, the Senate's top Republican said that
the Iraqis need to step up their own efforts as the
U.S. scales back troops in the wake of rising
violence in and around Baghdad.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (news, bio, voting record) of
Kentucky expressed disappointment with the Iraqi
government's progress in stemming violence and said
the U.S. presence there "will be different in the
fall."
"I don't think we'll have the same level of troops,
in all likelihood, that we have now," McConnell
said. "The Iraqis will have to step up, not only on
the political side, but on the military side to a
greater extent. We're not there forever."
Congress is waiting for another progress report, due
in September, on whether the increase in U.S. troops
in Iraq has been successful.
In an interview in Newsweek, al-Maliki avoided being
drawn into the debate between the Bush
administration and Congress. The U.S. "helped us by
toppling the regime and accomplishing many steps of
the political process but they still can leave," al-Maliki
said. "If the consequences of staying are bigger
than the consequences of leaving, they will leave."
Crocker said the Iraqis also are frustrated with
their slow progress but are "very close" to
agreement on a plan for managing the country's oil
production and share resources.
Petraeus spoke on "Fox News Sunday." Crocker was
interviewed from Baghdad on NBC's "Meet the Press."
McConnell appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation."
AP
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 