[Update] Hillary Reassures Iraqis & U.S. Personnel In Iraq
By SusanUnPC on April 25, 2009 at 9:25 PM in Ambassador Christopher Hill, Commanding General Ray Odierno, Iran, Iraq, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
The L.A. Times’s “In Baghdad visit, Clinton reassures Iraqis” points out:
Reporting from Baghdad — During an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Saturday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sought to reassure anxious Iraqis that the U.S. would not abandon them despite plans to start withdrawing U.S. troops soon.
Her visit coincided with a sudden surge of violence that had claimed the lives of nearly 160 people in the previous two days. But Clinton said she was confident that the bloodshed did not mean recent gains in security were being eroded.
The UPDATE is just below the fold:
UPDATE: Via Swoop.net, a most fascinating Web site that — in case Swoop is new to you — is “a multi-lingual source of intelligence about US international policy: political, military, financial and commercial” that “is produced by the Washington Assessment and Analysis Service (WAAS). WAAS brings together seasoned practitioners – American and European – who enjoy insider access to the centers of power in Washington DC. Having occupied positions that afford them intimate knowledge of how US policies are formulated and how outcomes are determined, Swoop’s writers have established expertise in interpreting US positions to global audiences.” (I subscribe to its weekly newsletter which comes out on Sunday mornings.)
As the US military begins to shift its focus to a new war in Afghanistan, a recent spike in violence in Iraq has some military commanders worried that their Afghan strategy could falter.
Even though President Obama has repeated his commitment to have US combat forces withdraw from Iraq over the next 19 months, potential cracks in the timeline have emerged. US Gen. Raymond Odierno, the top commander in Iraq, stated earlier this month that he has the “flexibility to change” the withdrawal schedule should events on the ground warrant it. Although changes in the proposed timeline would require Iraqi approval, some US officials worry that a series of unresolved political disputes may call for further US attention.
Chief among the internal challenges is violence targeting Sunni Awakening groups, the so-called Sons of Iraq, as well as a widening rift between Kurdish and Arab communities. Months of paralysis at the national level have also stalled legislative reforms, including the passage of a hydrocarbon law which, coupled with declines in oil revenues, will deepen the country’s economic crisis.
As Iraq’s competing factions work to secure their positions ahead of the American withdrawal, multinational companies also remain cautious about entering the Iraqi market. Concerned about the country’s stability and long-time climate, only few multinationals have engaged in exploratory projects. In Baghdad and Washington, military commanders and politicians are quietly fretting that unresolved governance issues and mounting sectarian tensions will test Washington’s exit strategy.
BELOW is more from the Los Angeles Times article, an excellent report. First, here’s the photo up at the State Department Web site:
Shortly after arriving in Baghdad, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton received a briefing by Commanding General Ray Odierno. To her left, in the seated photo, is newly arrived U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher R. Hill. Photo: Eric W. Brooks, U.S .Embassy Baghdad
From the State Department page, “Secretary Clinton: Travel to Iraq and Kuwait, April 25-26, 2009“:
Secretary Clinton has arrived in Baghdad, Iraq, April 25. The trip to Iraq is her first as Secretary of State. Secretary Clinton will depart later today for Kuwait.
While in Baghdad, Secretary Clinton will meet with Prime Minister al-Maliki, President Talibani, Deputy President al-Hashimi, Foreign Minister Zebari, and other senior leaders in the Government of Iraq. They will discuss issues of common concern including security, stability operations and assistance.
Secretary Clinton will also meet with Ambassador Christopher Hill and Multinational Force-Iraq Commander Odierno to discuss the Administration’s new direction and change of mission for U.S. forces in Iraq and hold a roundtable with Iraqi women.
And the Secretary will participate in a townhalll with Iraqi citizens who work day in and day out with Provincial Reconstruction Teams, to hear from and discuss with them what they are achieving as well as issues facing the Iraqi people.
Remarks
- 04/25/09 Remarks at the Town Hall Meeting with PRT Leaders and Iraqi Partners
The situation in Iraq is a far more complex matter than at first glance, what with half of those killed recently being Iranian pilgrims and the Iranian government accusing the U.S. of being behind the attacks along with growing resentment by Iraqis of Iranian interference in their country.
Then there’s that Iraqis are worried that the U.S. may be pulling out too soon.
“These are tragic, terrible events, but they don’t reflect any diversion from the security progress that has been made,” [Secretary Clinton] told reporters at a news briefing with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.
Clinton’s first visit to Iraq as secretary of State came the day after two suicide bombers killed 71 people at a Shiite Muslim shrine. The previous day, 88 people died in two other bombings, stirring fear that the insurgency is recovering its strength as U.S. forces are preparing to leave.
Nearly half the victims were Iranian pilgrims who were visiting Iraqi shrines. On Saturday, Iran’s supreme leader accused the United States of carrying out the attacks.
“The main suspects in this crime and crimes similar to that are American security and military forces who ruthlessly occupied the Muslim country under the umbrella of the ‘war on terrorism,’ ” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said. …
Many Iraqis, regardless of religious or ethnic group, appear to resent the increased role Iran has played in their country since the fall of Saddam Hussein. The U.S. military alleges that some Shiite insurgent groups receive arms and training from Iran.
Khamenei’s accusation may be taken by such militants as a signal to step up attacks on U.S. forces.
Clinton said the ayatollah’s statement was disappointing, and blamed the attacks instead on remnants of the militant group Al Qaeda …
She said Iraq could continue to count on U.S. support, albeit in different forms.
“The end of the United States combat presence in Iraq by 2011 will mark the beginning of a new phase of our countries’ relationship. As we draw down militarily, we will deepen our civilian cooperation,” she said. ….
[...]
many Iraqis are concerned that the U.S. is pulling out too soon. At the heavily fortified U.S. Embassy, Clinton held one of the town hall meetings that have become a hallmark of her diplomacy so far, and some members of the invited audience of about 100 Iraqis expressed their anxieties.
“Frankly, some people are afraid and concerned,” one Iraqi stood up and told her. “There are so many people who don’t trust the Iraqi security forces.”
Clinton responded that Iraqis needed to set aside their sectarian differences so they could learn to trust their security forces. “The more united Iraq is, the more you will trust the security forces,” she said.
Another member of the audience asked whether the U.S. was engaged in a “kind of retreat” from Iraq. Clinton replied that America remains “very committed” to the country. …
This is a fascinating report: “In Baghdad visit, Clinton reassures Iraqis.”
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