THE WITHDRAWAL of all US combat troops from Iraq next year will enable a new era of American leadership and engagement in the Middle East, President Barack Obama declared yesterday.
Mr Obama said that all combat troops would leave Iraq by August 2010, although a residual force of up to 50,000 could remain in the country until the end of 2011.
Addressing a military audience at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, the president said that leaving Iraq was essential if the US was to refocus its attention on other foreign policy priorities.
“America can no longer afford to see Iraq in isolation from other priorities: we face the challenge of refocusing on Afghanistan and Pakistan, of relieving the burden on our military and of rebuilding our struggling economy, and these are challenges that we will meet,” he said.
“It is time for Iraq to be a full partner in a regional dialogue, and for Iraq’s neighbours to establish productive and normalised relations with Iraq. And going forward, the United States will pursue principled and sustained engagement with all of the nations in the region, and that will include Iran and Syria.
“This reflects a fundamental truth: we can no longer deal with regional challenges in isolation. We need a smarter, more sustainable and comprehensive approach.”
Most of the approximately 100,000 US combat troops will remain in Iraq until early next year to ensure that national elections go smoothly. Mr Obama insisted, however, that all combat troops would be removed by the August 2010 deadline and that all other US troops would leave by December 31st, 2011, in accordance with a status of forces agreement with Iraq.
Addressing the Iraqi people directly, Mr Obama said he wanted to make clear the limited nature of American intentions in the region. “The United States pursues no claim on your territory or your resources. We respect your sovereignty and the tremendous sacrifices you have made for your country. We seek a full transition to Iraqi responsibility for the security of your country,” he said.
“And going forward, we can build a lasting relationship founded upon mutual interests and mutual respect as Iraq takes its rightful place in the community of nations.”
The president’s drawdown plan won the support yesterday of a number of Republicans, including his former presidential rival, John McCain. Mr McCain, who suggested during the campaign that Mr Obama would prefer to lose a war than lose an election, described the timetable for withdrawal as a reasonable one.
“Given the gains in Iraq and the requirements to send additional troops to Afghanistan, together with the significant number of troops that will remain in Iraq and the president’s willingness to reassess based on conditions on the ground, I am cautiously optimistic that the plan as laid out by the president can lead to success,” he said.
Some leading Democrats have expressed disquiet over the size of the residual force that will remain in Iraq after the combat troops withdraw. House speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would prefer to see a force of fewer than 20,000.
Senate majority leader Harry Reid expressed a similar concern.“I have long been for a significant drawback of troops in Iraq,” he said. “Fifty thousand is a higher number than I anticipated.”
Mr Obama insisted yesterday that his withdrawal plan would protect the security of US military and civilian personnel in Iraq while allowing Washington to pursue a more expansive diplomatic role. “Every nation and every group must know, whether you wish America good or ill, that the end of the war in Iraq will enable a new era of American leadership and engagement in the Middle East. And that era has just begun.”