Posted on 09/26/2006 7:39:59 PM PDT by SandRat
WASHINGTON — The Iraqi government is ready to send whatever number of troops is needed to help secure Baghdad, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said Sunday.
“The commander and chief of the Iraqi Army can move the units of Iraqi Army from different parts of Iraq to Baghdad,” Talabani told CNN’s John King. “Of course our capital is Baghdad, and we are much interested to secure (it).”
Such a move would help address concern by the commander of Multi-National Division – Baghdad, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. James Thurman, that an additional six battalions of Iraqi Soldiers - about 3,000 troops - are needed to help quell unrest in the capital.
Talabani acknowledged security is an issue, but said it’s the country’s only issue and that life in Iraq has made much progress after emerging from Saddam Hussein’s rule.
“The time of Saddam Hussein, hundreds of thousands were buried in mass graves … and the Iraqi people were deprived from all kinds of democratic rights and free economy,” he said. “Now we have in Iraq only one problem, which is the problem of security.”
Talabani said the Iraq people would continue to train the Army and prepare to replace American forces at the rate of one province each month.
The president said he is sorry for the loss of American lives on behalf of his country, but emphasized Iraq is grateful for the United States’ efforts to liberate the Iraqi people.
“We are very sorry for sacrifices of American forces in Iraq. I think that was the price of liberating Iraq and (millions) of Iraqis,” he said. “(The) American government did very important (thing) when they liberated Iraq from the worst kind of dictatorship, which was (affecting) the peace and stability not of Iraqi people only, but of the Middle East.”
Free from the oppression of Saddam Hussein, Talabani said Iraq is now working to normalize relations with its neighbors and further peace and stability in the Middle East. He recently visited Iran and said he hopes Iraq will be able to help mend ties between that country and the U.S.
“We have good relations with Iran and (also) with the United States of America,” Talabani said. “We are thinking that, as much as we can, we must … try to improve relations with United States of America and Iran. This is the way we can achieve our goals and protect our national interest in the area.”
I guess it'd make too much sense for Iraq to form something like states and have each factor govern itself, with the overall country being governed by the vote of all citizens.
Once, would have thought a good idea. Now, don't know, seeing as how the dimocrats want to keep us here in our own, statehood-country,split up all the time...
I wonder if these Iraqi monkeys are aware that some of the American deaths were Jewish ones?
Not that it matters to these raghead, stone age lunatics.
Well then, let's let 'em do it.
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