No ‘quick disengagement’ seen in Iraq under Obama: FM

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Wednesday Washington would not adopt a “quick disengagement” policy with Baghdad under the presidency of Barack Obama, expressing belief that the U.S. policy towards Iraq will not change with Obama’s victory. Zebari’s statements came only after one hour of the historic victory of Barack Obama who defeated Republican John McCain to make history as the first black U.S. president. Obama will be sworn in as the 44th U.S. president on January 20, 2009 and will face a crush of immediate challenges, from tackling an economic crisis to ending the war in Iraq and trying to overhaul the U.S. health care system. “Obama told Iraqis during his visit to Iraq that he will not become hasty in pulling out troops from Iraq in case he won the elections,” Zebari said, noting that the Iraqi government which welcomes and respects the U.S. people’s choices does not expect a big change in the American policy towards Iraq. “There is an opportunity to set up a successful partnership with the U.S. administration,” Zebari said. SH (P) 1