Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Philadelphia Inquirer
October 23, 2008
By Robert Burns, Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration warned yesterday of "real consequences" for Iraq if it rejects a newly negotiated security pact.
Without a deal, the United States could be forced to end its military operations.
The White House said Iraqi security forces were incapable of keeping the peace without U.S. troops, raising the specter of reversals in recent security and political gains if the proposed security deal is not approved by the time the current legal authority for U.S. military operations expires Dec. 31.
"There will be no legal basis for us to continue operating there without that," White House press secretary Dana Perino said. "And the Iraqis know that. And so we're confident that they'll be able to recognize this. And if they don't, there will be real consequences, if Americans aren't able to operate there."
At the Pentagon, press secretary Geoff Morrell said the U.S. fallback position would be to extend the U.N. Security Council mandate authorizing U.S.-led coalition operations in Iraq. He emphasized, though, that the Bush administration's preference was a bilateral U.S.-Iraqi agreement.
Morrell said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates had not had direct contacts with Iraqi officials since Baghdad announced earlier this week that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had determined that unspecified changes to the draft accord are required.
The spokesman said it was unclear what changes the Iraqis are demanding.
State Department spokesman Robert Wood said time was running short.
"As others have said, the door is closing," Wood said. "It's time for the Iraqis to step up to the plate and take a decision."
Wood insisted that the administration had yet to hear anything official from the Iraqi government on its position or its suggestions for possible amendments.
The United States has 155,000 troops in Iraq. In addition to conducting combat operations against a weakened insurgency and hunting down al-Qaeda fighters, the U.S. military is training Iraqi security forces, assisting in the resettlement of displaced people, coordinating efforts to restore and improve basic services such as water and sewage, and providing personal security for senior Iraqi officials.
The Iraqi government yesterday decried what it called the "not welcomed" statements from Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who cautioned the Iraqis about unwelcome consequences if the security pact is not signed by the end of the year.
Mullen, who was traveling in Europe, said Tuesday that time was running out for the Iraqis to sign the deal and that he was concerned they might not fully appreciate the seriousness of the situation.
Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement: "All Iraqis realize the volume of their responsibilities, and they appreciate the importance of signing the pact or not in the way they deem it proper."
Dabbagh added: "A compulsory method must not be imposed on their choice, and it is improper to address Iraqis in such manner."
Morrell said the Iraqis should not take Mullen's comments as an effort to force anything on them.
"That couldn't be further from the truth," Morrell said. "We are not trying to pressure the Iraqis or force the Iraqis into signing anything they don't wish to sign."
In subsequent remarks yesterday, Mullen said he believed the Iraqis were not ready to provide their own defense, according to a Pentagon account of comments to reporters traveling with him.
Mullen also made clear that if there is no U.S.-Iraqi deal and the U.N. mandate runs out Dec. 31 without an extension by the Security Council, all U.S. military operations would have to cease. Mullen and other senior U.S. military officials have said repeatedly that the security situation in Iraq is too fragile to justify a full U.S. withdrawal any time soon.
The proposed security pact calls for all U.S. combat forces to be removed from Iraqi cities by June 2009 and for all forces to leave the country by the end of 2011, unless both sides agree to an extension.
October 23, 2008
By Robert Burns, Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration warned yesterday of "real consequences" for Iraq if it rejects a newly negotiated security pact.
Without a deal, the United States could be forced to end its military operations.
The White House said Iraqi security forces were incapable of keeping the peace without U.S. troops, raising the specter of reversals in recent security and political gains if the proposed security deal is not approved by the time the current legal authority for U.S. military operations expires Dec. 31.
"There will be no legal basis for us to continue operating there without that," White House press secretary Dana Perino said. "And the Iraqis know that. And so we're confident that they'll be able to recognize this. And if they don't, there will be real consequences, if Americans aren't able to operate there."
At the Pentagon, press secretary Geoff Morrell said the U.S. fallback position would be to extend the U.N. Security Council mandate authorizing U.S.-led coalition operations in Iraq. He emphasized, though, that the Bush administration's preference was a bilateral U.S.-Iraqi agreement.
Morrell said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates had not had direct contacts with Iraqi officials since Baghdad announced earlier this week that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had determined that unspecified changes to the draft accord are required.
The spokesman said it was unclear what changes the Iraqis are demanding.
State Department spokesman Robert Wood said time was running short.
"As others have said, the door is closing," Wood said. "It's time for the Iraqis to step up to the plate and take a decision."
Wood insisted that the administration had yet to hear anything official from the Iraqi government on its position or its suggestions for possible amendments.
The United States has 155,000 troops in Iraq. In addition to conducting combat operations against a weakened insurgency and hunting down al-Qaeda fighters, the U.S. military is training Iraqi security forces, assisting in the resettlement of displaced people, coordinating efforts to restore and improve basic services such as water and sewage, and providing personal security for senior Iraqi officials.
The Iraqi government yesterday decried what it called the "not welcomed" statements from Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who cautioned the Iraqis about unwelcome consequences if the security pact is not signed by the end of the year.
Mullen, who was traveling in Europe, said Tuesday that time was running out for the Iraqis to sign the deal and that he was concerned they might not fully appreciate the seriousness of the situation.
Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement: "All Iraqis realize the volume of their responsibilities, and they appreciate the importance of signing the pact or not in the way they deem it proper."
Dabbagh added: "A compulsory method must not be imposed on their choice, and it is improper to address Iraqis in such manner."
Morrell said the Iraqis should not take Mullen's comments as an effort to force anything on them.
"That couldn't be further from the truth," Morrell said. "We are not trying to pressure the Iraqis or force the Iraqis into signing anything they don't wish to sign."
In subsequent remarks yesterday, Mullen said he believed the Iraqis were not ready to provide their own defense, according to a Pentagon account of comments to reporters traveling with him.
Mullen also made clear that if there is no U.S.-Iraqi deal and the U.N. mandate runs out Dec. 31 without an extension by the Security Council, all U.S. military operations would have to cease. Mullen and other senior U.S. military officials have said repeatedly that the security situation in Iraq is too fragile to justify a full U.S. withdrawal any time soon.
The proposed security pact calls for all U.S. combat forces to be removed from Iraqi cities by June 2009 and for all forces to leave the country by the end of 2011, unless both sides agree to an extension.