Maliki wants complete Iraqi forces control of country in 18 month
Iraq-USA, Politics, 5/24/2006

Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said today that "Iraqi forces are capable of taking control of security in all of Iraq within 18 months, but still need more recruits, training and equipment," a Los Angeles Times report said.

The report said UK prime minister Tony Blair visiting Iraq and al-Maliki "declined to set a timetable, but British media quoted an unidentified senior British official as saying coalition forces should be out of Iraq within four years. The British and Iraqi leaders said "responsibility for much of Iraq's territorial security" should be transferred to Iraqi control by December. Al-Maliki said two of Iraq's most violent provinces, Baghdad and Anbar, may be the last where coalition forces maintain control."

Yesterday, White House spokesman Tony Snow said that "we are there at the request and behest of the Iraqi government. We'll stay only as long as the Iraqi government wants us to stay there. But at this point, we are not going to harness ourself to an artificial timetable. The more important task is to get the job done."

There is a perceived sense of divergence of views between the US and the UK on Iraq, and the need for foreign troops there. Though both sides say troops will stay as long as needed, the UK is a more anxious to be out of Iraq.

Snow said Blair will be visiting the US this week adding that Blair "sort of made that clear, also, in the press conference with Prime Minister Maliki, pointing out, again, conditions on the ground will determine if and when there are troop withdrawals."

Previous Stories:
  US on Iraq pull out   (5/22/2006)
  US commander: next days in Iraq critical   (5/22/2006)
  US commander: Iraq economic success will change atmosphere   (5/20/2006)

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