|
Australia: Hasty Iraq pullout dangerous
9.7.2007
|
|
|
|
July
9, 2007
CANBERRA, Australia - Australia's foreign
minister warned Monday that pulling U.S. coalition
troops out of Iraq too soon could provoke a wider
conflict in the Middle East.
The sectarian violence that al-Qaida is fomenting in
Iraq could have dire consequences for the rest of
the Middle East if the insurgents are allowed to
succeed, said Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.
He noted that Saudi Arabia has significant ties with
Iraq's Sunni Muslims, while Iran has close links to
Iraq's Shiites.
Turkey, meanwhile, is worried about Kurdish rebels
setting up bases in northern Iraq in their fight for
autonomy in southeast Turkey.
"If you allow Iraq to descend into total chaos with
absolutely no international stabilization there and
with an Iraqi security force unable to maintain
security then there's a very high risk of (other)
countries being drawn in," Downer told Australian
Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Downer denied international forces were in Iraq to
secure oil reserves, though he said oil supply
disruptions were among the consequences of a
regional conflict.
"The reason for international forces being in Iraq
is to keep the situation stable," he said.
Australia sent 2,000 troops to support the 2003
U.S.-led liberation of Iraq, and keeps about 1,600
troops in the region.
AP
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 