Rice in Baghdad to consult new Iraqi leaders
Iraq-USA, Politics, 4/26/2006

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit to Baghdad today to consult with Iraq's newly chosen government officials and review operations at the US Embassy to ensure it is in a position to provide the new Iraqi government with the support it needs.

Rice called the formation of the new government a "turning point," saying it is a government of national unity that "gives Iraq now a real chance to deal with the obviously very vexing problems that it has faced."

Rice was asked that a " new video from Zarqawi seems to stick a finger in the eye of the Americans and say this new government is an American stooge. Do you risk sort of furthering that or feeding that in the Islamic world by showing up now?"

Rice said "I think Zarqawi knows very well that 11 million people in Iraq went out and voted for this government and that what this government is is representative of the broad Iraqi populace. It is a government of national unity and it is in that way the greatest threat to his efforts to separate the Iraqis and to turn them against one another. In fact, the answer to the Zarqawi video is not anything that the United States can say; it's what the Iraqis are saying in having formed this government of national unity despite all the threats and all of the violence that he and those who wish not to have a stable and democratic Iraq, and try to .. And you know, we're going to go and do the work that we need to do. Secretary Rumsfeld and I are going to be there together because a lot of this is the work that has to be done is at that juncture between political and military. Whether it's the work that we need to do with the Ministry of Interior or the work that needs to be done with the PRTs, it's at that juncture between political and military. But this is the Iraqis' time. This is a time to support an Iraqi government of national unity. It will be up to Iraqis to determine how this moves forward and we're going to be there very much in support of them."

Rice told reporters en route to Baghdad that she believes the new Iraqi leaders will take a nonsectarian approach to filling ministerial posts.

"I think they understand... the importance of appointing ministers and subordinates who have a reputation for technical competence and a mindset that is nonsectarian," she said. She added, "they know that that's the only way that they can govern the country."

Rice's trip was timed to coincide with a surprise visit by US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Rice said it was important for both she and Rumsfeld to be in Iraq in order to coordinate political and military efforts in support of the new government.

Rice said "what we're doing now really is at that juncture between political and military. There's been very close coordination and cooperation between Ambassador Khalilzad and General Casey and their staffs throughout this period, but as we move to this new period we really are looking, as we look more at the transfer of responsibilities and authorities to -- or responsibilities to the Iraqis, we just want to make sure that there are no seams between what we're doing politically and what we're doing militarily. And so this is a good time for us to go out and have joint efforts, joint briefings, joint discussions with our people, so that we can make certain that those political-military links are very strong. "

Rice said she would review staffing and operations at the US Embassy to ensure that it has adequate resources to provide technical support to the Iraqi ministries and the new provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs).

The PRTs are support offices located throughout the country and staffed with political, economic, security and development experts providing services and advice to local and provincial governments. There are currently four PRTs operating in the provinces and a fifth opening in Baghdad.

Previous Stories:
  Rice in Turkey with Iraq and Iran in mind   (4/25/2006)
  Rice: Iraqis have framework to deal with militias   (4/25/2006)
  Rice: selection of Iraqi prime minister important milestone   (4/24/2006)

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