The Hindu : National : "U.S. will pull out if new Iraqi regime wants it"

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Saturday, Feb 05, 2005

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"U.S. will pull out if new Iraqi regime wants it"

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI, FEB. 4. The United States would "comply" with any request from a new Iraqi Government to pull out its forces from Iraq, the U.S. Ambassador to India, David Mulford, pledged today at a joint press conference with the Iraqi Charge d'Affaires to India, Muayad S. Hussein.

The press conference itself was a novel one, with Mr. Mulford travelling to the 21, Prithviraj Road residence of Mr. Hussein

The last press conference was that of the former Iraqi Ambassador to India, Saleh Al-Mukhtar, who had lambasted U.S. designs on Iraq.

Today, the American and Iraqi flags flew together in the Iraqi Ambassador's residence as Mr. Hussein and Mr. Mulford stood together to extol the virtues of the just-concluded elections for a constituent assembly in Iraq.

According to Mr. Mulford, American troops would remain in Iraq for some more time till their job was done.

He also referred to the recent statement made by the U.S. President, George W. Bush, that Washington had no plans of its own to pull out of Iraq.

Troops needed: Hussein

On his part, Mr. Hussein committed a new Iraqi government to retaining American troops. He argued that in the "present security scenario" American forces were required for "some more time."

"I am confident that even the opponents in Iraq are not demanding immediate withdrawal of the foreign forces. They want a time-table for the pull-out of these forces, which cannot be decided at this time," he told presspersons.

In defence of his position, Mr. Hussein claimed that foreign troops in Iraq were present for security and not for political reasons.

The presence of these forces, he maintained, was necessary to "avert civil war" in Iraq. No government in Iraq would be able to deal with this situation on its own.

Asked if the new Government would take on the task of trying the former President, Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi official said that he was from the past. "We don't even want to be reminded of his name," he said.

About Indian assistance to Iraq, Mr. Mulford said that such cooperation would be an issue for the new government in Baghdad and the Government of India. Mr. Husseinfelt that Iraq would like to learn from the experience of Indian democracy.

"In [the] new Iraqi scenario, there are lots of opportunities for the Indian business community who can re-establish their old position. India had been very actively involved in constructing [the] Iraqi economy during last several decades.

"Indians have long experience in working in that region and Iraq can benefit from their expertise in various fields: construction, engineering, oil exploration and information technology ... today economy drives politics ... " he added.

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