Colin Powell: We'll leave if asked.
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| Sat, 05-15-2004 - 11:28am |
>"US-led coalition forces will leave Iraq if asked to do so by a new interim government to take office on July 1, Secretary of State Colin Powell pledged yesterday as controversy continued over the treatment of US prisoners.
But even as he made the pledge, violence continued to flare.
At least 10 Iraqi militiamen were reported killed in fierce clashes with US troops in the Shiite holy city of Najaf.
Heavy fighting broke out in the city's vast cemetery about a kilometre north-west of the Imam Ali shrine, one of the holiest sites for Shiite Muslims worldwide.
US tanks were seen in the sprawling graveyard as black-clad militiamen loyal to radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr fanned out across the area, which was covered with thick black smoke and circled by US helicopters."<
>"British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he did not believe stability in Iraq would be served by an abrupt withdrawal.
"But were the government that takes over to ask us to leave, we would leave," Mr Straw said.
The British Government hopes a draft UN Security Council resolution on Iraq will be circulated within two weeks and adopted by June 10, a senior British official said in London, briefing reporters."<
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http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/15/1084571006450.html


I was wondering why they would annouce this new policy at this time?
I hear that some people at the UN(France) has been complaining that the 1st July is only a front for continued occupation of Iraq and the soon to be named Interm governing council is only a face with no real authority.
If I remember correctly, they said, initialy that after the new government is elected they would turn over all powers and now they seem to be saying that the IGC will have some more ligitmate powers?
I guess this is to help in getting a new resolution at the UN passed?
This has always been the problem, the US wants to maintain control. If they are willing to relinquish control without attaching too many strings France will go along, otherwise they will veto. It will be interesting to observe.
I do not think we should pull the troops out. Any new government will need security until it is able to gain control. If we pull the troops out too fast, we will leave a mess, and earn even more anger from the area.