Kissenger warns against an early withdrawal from Iraq

In Belgium the US former secretary of state Henry Kissenger expressed his opposition for any early pull out of the American forces from Iraq. He warned against catastrophic results of any defeat and a hasty withdrawal for the American forces.

He said that Washington has to hold consultations at the international level concerning its plans on Iraq, due to the likely destructive results of its failure there. Kissenger, who was talking in a meeting for the NATO in Brussels, warned against the emergence of a "Jihadi government" in Baghdad, adding that such a government will threaten areas quite far from Iraq and the Middle East.

He said before officials and leaders in the NATO that a catastrophic result in Iraq will directly or indirectly affect all NATO members. He called on the European to help coordinate efforts to ensure stability in Iraq.

The former US secretary of state defended the principle of "preemptive strikes" policy the US embarks on, but said this should not be made just to fulfill the American interests (but other interests as well).

Kissenger's statements coincides with statements made by American officials on reducing the number of their forces in Iraq. The US defense department (Pentagon) said that the army is waiting for the Iraqi elections to be carried out in December, before taking a decision to reducing its forces currently estimated at 160,000 soldiers.