Allawi warns of Iraq implosion, urges US diplomacy

[k98nights]

Allawi warns of Iraq implosion, urges US diplomacy

AFP – 1 hr 18 mins ago

Iraq is enduring the "most dangerous phase" of its modern history, with sectarianism, political tensions and terrorism soaring and the fledgling democracy in jeopardy, ex-premier Iyad Allawi told US media.

And with the last US soldier leaving the war-torn country just one month ago, Allawi said the United States is morally obligated to use its diplomatic muscle to restore "sanity" to Iraq's political landscape.

"Let me tell you frankly, there are lots of problems now. The whole situation is very tense," Allawi said in an interview with the CNN show "Fareed Zakaria GPS" that aired Sunday.

"Sectarianism is coming back in force in this country. I think that Iraq is passing through the most dangerous phase through its history now."

Iraq has been rocked by waves of attacks in the month since US troops pulled out from the country they invaded eight years ago, and concern has soared about Iraqi forces' capabilities to maintain internal security.

On Sunday in mostly Sunni Ramadi a series of attacks and a siege of a police compound left seven policemen dead, one day after a suicide attacker targeting Shiites killed 53 people near Basra.

Nearly 200 people have been killed in the violence in less than a month, as a political standoff in Iraq pits the Shiite-led government against the main Sunni-backed political bloc, stoking sectarian tensions.

Authorities have charged Sunni Arab Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi with running a death squad, and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a Shiite, has called for his Sunni deputy Saleh al-Mutlak to be sacked.

Allawi, a secular Shiite, is leader of the bloc that won the most seats in 2010 elections, but he backed out of a power-sharing deal with Maliki.

"I have warned in the very early days -- in fact, years ago -- that sectarianism and having a vacuum and having a political process which is not inclusive, can only destroy the future of this country," Allawi told CNN.

He cited US President Barack Obama's claim last month that US forces were leaving Iraq a stable and democratic country.

"It's neither stable nor democratic, frankly speaking," Allawi said. "The terrorists are hitting again very severely, and Al-Qaeda is fully operational now in Iraq."

He stressed that while he did not want a return of US troops to Iraqi soil, Washington should "use its diplomatic and other channels through the strategic agreement between the United States and Iraq to try and bring about sanity to the political process and inclusivity."

The United States, he said, has "a political as well as moral responsibility to help this country to pass through this very difficult phase."

http://news.yahoo.com/allawi-warns-iraq-implosion-urges-us-diplomacy-184912175.html

[Puff]

Thank you nights...I didn't get to see this. Let G d be G d and man be man!

[Carrello]

And I suppose Iraq needs Allawi to lead them into the light and out of darkness..............

[tilak]

Allawi definitely hasn't help at all to begin with....he should just disappear and retire.

[Perspective2011]

"He stressed that while he did not want a return of US troops to Iraqi soil, Washington should "use its diplomatic and other channels through the strategic agreement between the United States and Iraq to try and bring about sanity to the political process and inclusivity."

.......

What on earth could be done through "diplomatic" terms to get Al-Qaeda to stop their attacks? Hasn't this been a war for the past 10 years? If their motive is to take over with a strong enough militia army(don't see that ever happening) then it is going to take pure brute force to stop them. This is a pony show attempt to place himself in the political spotlight... or as Carello said "And I suppose Iraq needs Allawi to lead them into the light and out of darkness.............. "

We fulfilled our obligation while the GOI dragged their feet. The moment comes when we withdraw and they discover it's THEM that has to carry the torch for a change. Until then there was no sense of urgency to have their economy booming and government in place with a qualified Defense/Security Minister. They use the word urgent but rarely back it up with the attention it deserves.

All we can do is sit, wait and watch...

[Carrello]

"He stressed that while he did not want a return of US troops to Iraqi soil, Washington should "use its diplomatic and other channels through the strategic agreement between the United States and Iraq to try and bring about sanity to the political process and inclusivity."

.......

What on earth could be done through "diplomatic" terms to get Al-Qaeda to stop their attacks? Hasn't this been a war for the past 10 years? If their motive is to take over with a strong enough militia army(don't see that ever happening) then it is going to take pure brute force to stop them. This is a pony show attempt to place himself in the political spotlight... or as Carello said "And I suppose Iraq needs Allawi to lead them into the light and out of darkness.............. "

We fulfilled our obligation while the GOI dragged their feet. The moment comes when we withdraw and they discover it's THEM that has to carry the torch for a change. Until then there was no sense of urgency to have their economy booming and government in place with a qualified Defense/Security Minister. They use the word urgent but rarely back it up with the attention it deserves.

All we can do is sit, wait and watch...

These kind of statements from Iraqis release them from any responsibility if anything goes wrong, but if it is going right, it is because they are sovereign, and the US left, and, and, and......

[lomeygoat]

Allawi definitely hasn't help at all to begin with....he should just disappear and retire.

His resignation and suicide would seem the obvious choice.

[Perspective2011]

These kind of statements from Iraqis release them from any responsibility if anything goes wrong, but if it is going right, it is because they are sovereign, and the US left, and, and, and......

That is exactly what is happening. When all is well they celebrate THEIR "progress" but when it's bad it is OUR fault they waited to take action while we were there.