US commander: next days in Iraq critical
Iraq-USA, Politics, 5/22/2006

US Army General George Casey, Multinational Force-Iraq Commanding General, said the seating of this newly assigned government, like the elections last December, "are strengthening the bonds of the Iraqi Constitution and building confidence that legitimate political processes will yield enduring triumph over tyranny."

He said "For the first time since the founding of Iraq, all Iraqis – Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds and smaller groups – have joined to cooperatively govern the country, guided by a Constitution approved by the majority of Iraqis. It is a Constitution, and a government, founded on liberty, justice, and equal rule of law for Iraqis. This marks another important step toward a unified, secure and prosperous Iraq.

"The weeks ahead hold promise and opportunity for this new government. The Council of Representatives, in cooperation with the Presidency Council and the Ministers, will frame and begin to implement a program to: protect the Iraqi people from terrorist and foreign fighter violence, responsibly improve basic services, encourage growth of a private-sector market economy, strengthen the rule of law under the Constitution, and holding provincial and local democratic elections.

"Establishing programs for national reconciliation, strengthening cooperation with provincial and local officials, improving judicial processes, and providing responsive, accountable governance are sure to be important objectives in the early days of this administration.

"This government can increase public confidence in a peaceful future and calm tensions, marking an important milestone on the path to enduring stability. Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki is committed to a government based on merit – administrators who are qualified and independent of sectarian or political bias. He has voiced clear intention to protect the Iraqi people by enforcing laws regarding militias and unlawfully armed groups. Equally important, he has noted the importance of ensuring that government security personnel are nonpartisan, and hold their loyalty to a unified Iraq above all other considerations.

These important programs will go a long way toward improving the safety of all Iraqis and move the country toward security, self-reliance, unity, and prosperity."

Previous Stories:
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  US commander: Iraq economic success will change atmosphere   (5/20/2006)
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