Bush compares toppling Saddam Hussein to the fall of the Berlin wall
Iraq-USA, Politics, 4/13/2005

The American President George W. Bush compared the foiling of the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq two years ago to the collapse of Berlin wall in Germany. He considered that the success of what he called democracy in that country will be a message to the region extending from Tehran to Beirut.

Bush said in a speech he delivered in a military base in Texas that freedom can be in the future of eahc and every country.

He indicated that his country's forces forces will leave Iraq when the Iraqi forces are able to control security there. He added that the American forces are carrying out a supportive role for the Iraqi forces.

Bush's statements came hours after confirmations from his defense secretary in Baghdad in which he said that the USA has not yet put a strategy to withdraw its forces from Iraq and that this measure is linked to the ability of the Iraqi forces to assume security mission in this country.

Rumsfield who arrived in Baghdad in a visit which was not declared said "we do not have a strategy to pull out, we have a strategy to attain victory." He added that the Iraqi military establishments should improve its ability to assume security responsibilities, when they are ready for that, the responsibilities of the coalition forces will be decreased and we will be able to leave the country.

Each of the new interim Iraqi President Jalal al-Talibani, the designated prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the Iraqi vice president Ghazi al-Yawer stressed in recent days on that the Iraqi forces which are run by the American army are still unable to assume their mission fully and that it is premature to talk about the withdrawal of the 140,000 American soldiers from Iraq.

Rumsfeld loomed the possibility of keeping American military bases in Iraq, in reply to a question on the intention of his country in this regard. He said that this matter should be discussed with the Iraqi government which will be elected in December this year after formulating the final constitution for the country and approving it. He added "it is inappropriate to discuss this matter with an interim government." The US defense secretary also urged each of Talibani and Jaafari to honor the schedule set for the final constitution being presented for a public referendum in October and hoped that the Iraqi officials will not delay this process.

In addition to the military aspect, Rumsfeld warned the new government against political cleansing operation, in remarks to the intention of certain members of the coalition list to make cleansing operations in the security and military departments targeting, in particular, those who were appointed by the former Iraqi prime minister Eyad Allawi.

Previous Stories:
  Iraqi security forces gain strength   (4/12/2005)
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  US ambassador to Iraq   (4/6/2005)

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