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US forces might be needed to serve as a
buffer between Iraqi national and Kurdistan regional
forces
13.3.2010 |
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Northern Iraq Commander Might Need Combat Troops
Beyond August
March
13, 2010
The commander of U.S. forces in
northern Iraq says it might be necessary to keep
some American combat forces in the country beyond
the August 31 deadline, to continue serving as a
buffer between Iraqi national and Kurdish regional
forces (Peshmarga). But the officer says the
situation is improving and the two groups might not
need a third-party to help them for very long.
Speaking from his headquarters in northern Iraq,
Major General Tony Cucolo told reporters during a
conference call it might be necessary to keep combat
troops involved in the security mechanism that
maintains peace between Iraqi national and Kurdish
regional forces beyond the deadline.
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U.S. Major General Tony Cucolo. |
"If there is any place we keep
combat power, this is just my guess, it's as a part
of the combined security mechanism," said General
Cucolo.
That would require a change in the U.S.-Iraqi
agreement that calls for all American combat troops
to be out of Iraq by the end of August, and senior
U.S. officials have said it would take a major
security problem for them to advocate such a change.
But General Cucolo says he is only talking about
maybe 800 troops in 26 small units spread along the
Arab-Kurd regional border, and they could be
redesignated as advisory units.
And the general says even that may not be necessary.
He says the Kurdish and Arab forces that nearly went
to war last year, before the three-way security
system was established,www.ekurd.netare
now working together quite well. In the interview,
he predicted they might be able to work without U.S.
help by the time the American combat role is to end
six months from now, but later he backed off from
that a little bit.
"If politics can stay out of it, these soldiers get
along," he said. "And if that zone of friction
between Kurds and Arabs is left to security forces I
think over time they will not need a third party. I
should not put a timetable on it. Six months is too
wild a guess."
Still, General Cucolo's assessment is more
optimistic than some other officers, who have warned
U.S. combat troops might be needed to stave off
potential violence in his region as a new government
is formed and as political leaders try to solve
difficult issues involving the borders of the
Kurdish region and the status of the City of Kirkuk.
The general is also concerned about those issues,
but he notes that the period leading up to last
Sunday's election was much more peaceful than had
been expected. Still, he says his forces are
preparing for any problems that might arise in the
coming months.
"We're going through the 'What if?' drill right now
because it's not clear to us what the results are,"
explained Major General Tony Cucolo. "We're doing
the "What ifs" of if one group feels tremendously
disenfranchised what would they do. And then we
switch it to another group."
The general says such planning, together with Iraqi
and Kurdish forces, is the key to maintaining
security, as it was for the mostly peaceful Iraqi
Election Day.
"What has to be clear to the Iraqi citizens is that
their security is guaranteed to the greatest degree
possible," he said.
At the same time, General Cucolo is preparing for
the departure of more than half his troops by the
August deadline. He is facing a cut from 22,000 to
9,000, which he says will result in less
'partnering' with Iraqi and Kurdish units - leaving
them more and more on their own to provide the
security he says is the key to resolving the
political issues and providing stability for the
future.
Copyright, respective author or news agency,
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