Monday, September 25, 2006
Talabani asks for longterm U.S. military presence
Security
Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi president, has asked for a long-term US military presence in Iraq, saying his country needs two permanent US air bases to deter "foreign interference." "I think we will be in need of American forces for a long time - even two military bases to prevent foreign interference," Talabani told The Washington Post in an interview published on Monday. "I don't ask to have 100,000 American soldiers - 10,000 soldiers and two air bases would be enough."
The president indicated that the bases would be most welcome in Kurdistan. But he suggested that the Sunni Arab segment of the Iraqi population would also welcome a long-term US military presence in Iraq. "In some places Sunnis want the Americans to stay," he argued. "Sunnis think the main danger is coming from Iran now."
The comments come as top US military commanders admitted that the United States would not be able to reduce its 147,000-strong contingent in Iraq in the coming months because of spreading sectarian violence and the possibility of the country slipping into civil war.
The president indicated that the bases would be most welcome in Kurdistan. But he suggested that the Sunni Arab segment of the Iraqi population would also welcome a long-term US military presence in Iraq. "In some places Sunnis want the Americans to stay," he argued. "Sunnis think the main danger is coming from Iran now."
The comments come as top US military commanders admitted that the United States would not be able to reduce its 147,000-strong contingent in Iraq in the coming months because of spreading sectarian violence and the possibility of the country slipping into civil war.
