U.S. reconstruction chief: Plans going ahead for withdrawal

[Sara Johnson]

U.S. reconstruction chief: Plans going ahead for withdrawal

19/05/2011 16:21

Najaf, 19 May (AKnews) – The U.S. is already putting plans into action to pull all troops out of Iraq by the end of the year, the woman in charge of leading the reconstruction of Najaf for the U.S. said today.

Karen Malzahn, director of the Provincial Reconstruction Team, told AKnews: "Until now there are no changes or updates to the withdrawal. Things are moving towards the application of Strategic Framework Agreement terms.”

The U.S. has begun to wind down of U.S. operations and presence in the country in line with the U.S-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed in 2008 by the two countries. Under this all U.S. combat forces should be off Iraqi soil by the end of this year.

However, debate around whether to extend the stay has got more heated in recent weeks as the U.S. put pressure on Iraq to decide one way or the other.

Salah Ubeidi, a spokesperson for the Shia dominated Sard Current, today dismissed claims that the withdraw would lead to a destabilization of the country and the flaring of ethnic violence.

Ali Hussein al-Tamimi, a member of the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, said last week that most Iraqi politicians secretly want the U.S. to stay, but do not want to commit the political suicide that openly declaring that would entail.

However there are fears that the extension of the stay could lead to an escalation of violence that would outweigh any benefit that the U.S. troops might provide. Last month Muqtada al-Sadr threatened to mobilize his frozen Mahdi Army – a militia strictly loyal to Sadr, which was engaged in deadly clashes with the U.S. and Iraqi forces in southern provinces.

The Mahdi Army was stood down from military actions in 2007 by al-Sadr, as the movement put its efforts into engaging with the political system and entered electoral politics, but the threat to return to violent means has remained.

At a gathering of the southern tribes in Basra in early May, chiefs warned there will be a return to the Twenty Revolution, a revolt against the British in 1920 led by tribal heads, if the troops do not pull out.

A member of Southern Tribes Council Mohammed al Kadhim told AKnews that "Basra province is living in security and stability and there is no need for the US forces within its territory. Armed confrontation with the forces is an option if the withdrawal is not achieved."

In an exclusive interview with AKnews recently, the head of Iraqi Army, Lieutenant General Babakir Zebari, said that Iraq is not ready to assume responsibility for its own security and that U.S. troops should remain until at least 2020.

He said homegrown forces were capable of dealing with the ongoing insurgency, but in doing so could not also defend their airspace and borders for which they relied on the Americans.

The insurgency in the country is not at the level it once was at the height of the troubles in 2006 and 2007, when suicide bombings were an almost daily occurrence, but recent months have seen an increase in targeted assassinations of government officials and military officers.

Following the 2008 agreement U.S. troops have wound down their operations in Iraq and now only carry out joint operations with Iraqi forces at the request of officials. 47,000 combat troops remain in the county.

By Salah al-Khozaee

Sa/AKnews

http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/240933/

[Darin]

They should just setup camp at a neighboring country.

It's their way of saying, we're out of your hair, but we are here if you need us.

They would also be able to monitor borders if necessary dependent upon where they set up camp.

[HYDRANT]

FAT BOY SADR IS LIKEING THIS I BET

[kwg]

Move all military to Kuwait and hold be ready to pounce if one false move!!!!!!!

[Francie26]

We need to send the SEALS to take out ak-Sadr. haha

[ronnie s]

We have no right under our constition to even be there. Is was all a lie there was no iminent threat to the

Borders of this country no WMDS I have to laugh when 99% of congress admits they don’t follow the constition why did the take the oath??

.only Ron Paul dos, but they call him radical I say radical is 1.2-1-5 trillion on our offence, an 900 + large

Bases around the world an a 14 trillion dollar debt. Russia spends 60 billion a year but that’s for defense not offence, an they could

Turn this country into green glass as we could there’s.