Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Media: AFP
Byline: n/a
Date: 25 September 2006
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, in an interview, asked for a long-term US
military presence in Iraq, saying his country will need two permanent US air
bases to deter "foreign interference."
"I think we will be in need of American forces for a long time -- even two
military bases to prevent foreign interference," Talabani told The
Washington Post.
"I don't ask to have 100,000 American soldiers -- 10,000 soldiers and two
air bases would be enough."
The president indicated the bases would most welcome in Kurdistan, an
autonomous region in northern Iraq that has practiced de facto
self-government since the 1991 Gulf War.
But he suggested that the Sunni Arab segment of the Iraqi population would
also welcome a long-term US military presence in Iraq.
"In some places Sunnis want the Americans to stay," he argued. "Sunnis think
the main danger is coming from Iran now."
The comments come as top US military commanders admitted the United States
will not be able to reduce its 147,000-strong contingent in Iraq in the
coming months because of spreading sectarian violence and the possibility of
the country slipping into civil war.
US Central Command head General John Abizaid told defense reporters last
week any previous plans to draw down US troops in Iraq had been put off
until at least next spring, and the force level might even go up.
"I think these are prudent force levels," Abizaid said of the current
contingent. "We'll bring in more forces if we have to."
Byline: n/a
Date: 25 September 2006
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, in an interview, asked for a long-term US
military presence in Iraq, saying his country will need two permanent US air
bases to deter "foreign interference."
"I think we will be in need of American forces for a long time -- even two
military bases to prevent foreign interference," Talabani told The
Washington Post.
"I don't ask to have 100,000 American soldiers -- 10,000 soldiers and two
air bases would be enough."
The president indicated the bases would most welcome in Kurdistan, an
autonomous region in northern Iraq that has practiced de facto
self-government since the 1991 Gulf War.
But he suggested that the Sunni Arab segment of the Iraqi population would
also welcome a long-term US military presence in Iraq.
"In some places Sunnis want the Americans to stay," he argued. "Sunnis think
the main danger is coming from Iran now."
The comments come as top US military commanders admitted the United States
will not be able to reduce its 147,000-strong contingent in Iraq in the
coming months because of spreading sectarian violence and the possibility of
the country slipping into civil war.
US Central Command head General John Abizaid told defense reporters last
week any previous plans to draw down US troops in Iraq had been put off
until at least next spring, and the force level might even go up.
"I think these are prudent force levels," Abizaid said of the current
contingent. "We'll bring in more forces if we have to."