Iraqi joy for U.S. withdrawal, concern over possible regional interference

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi citizens expressed their joy with the decision taken by U.S. President Barack Obama to withdraw troops from Iraq, while other citizens were concerned about the ability of Iraqi forces to take over the security file, without foreign troops. “ I was happy, as was every Iraqi citizen, with the announcement of the end of U.S. troops’ presence, mainly after the Iraqi security proved their ability and efficiency to maintain security throughout the country,” Aamer al-Husseini, a 40-year-old employee, told IraqiNews.com news agency. However, he voiced concern about possible foreign and regional threats after the U.S. withdrawal. He demanded that the government provide the Iraqi forces with all necessary military equipments to be able to face terrorists and protect the country from foreign threats. Qaisar Jabar, another employee, described the decision to pull out troops from Iraq as ‘a victory’ of the Iraqi security forces, noting that these forces managed to destroy all terrorist cells in Mosul, Falluja, Samarra, and Tikrit. Jabar said that realizing security in Iraq is linked to the development of Iraq’s tensioned relations with the U.S.. Diaa Karim, a lawyer, expressed the same opinion, and said “I support the withdrawal as every Iraqi citizen after the security success realized by U.S., British forces in cooperation with the Iraqi troops, however if I were making the decision, I would maintain a fraction of the U.S. troops because their withdrawal could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe as the neighboring countries want to retaliate against Iraq, mainly Iran and Gulf countries.” Bassam Eisho, 55, called on the Iraqi government to explain how the withdrawal decision was reached. “ As a citizen I feel shy and shame when I traveled abroad and listened to other people speak about how the Iraqi people and government accepted the presence of foreign troops in their country,” he said. Obama had announced on Friday (Feb. 27) his plan to end combat operations and start withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq on August 31, 2010. Obama made the announcement in a speech to military troops and officers at camp Lejeune (LEH-UHN) N.C. he said his administration will “proceed cautiously” on the withdrawal and that U.S. commanders will bring it about in close consultation with the Iraqi government. During his campaign for the presidency, Obama had advocated pulling troops out within 16 months of taking office. The timeline he announced Friday, involving roughly 100,000 troops, was two months longer. It still hastens the U.S. exit, nevertheless. Obama also said that between 35,000 and 50,000 troops will initially remain there to help train Iraqi forces and undertake counter-terrorism missions. SH (I)/SR 3