Peace on the way in Iraq, Rumsfeld insists

Facing growing domestic unpopularity over the war, Mr Rumsfeld said Iraq was "several years" behind Afghanistan but claimed progress was being made. There now were 211,000* trained and equipped men in the Iraqi security forces.

Appearing frustrated, Mr Rumsfeld told reporters that, despite the violence tearing the country apart, "it will be a stable country, at peace with its neighbours". "There will be times when it's ugly but, by golly, I think they're going to make it," he said.

By golly, I feel better now.

*Actual number in the Iraqi security forces depends on your definition of "trained", "equipped" and "in". Certain restrictions may apply. Stop asking for details.

Peace on the way in Iraq, Rumsfeld insists
PHILLIP COOREY
19nov05

IRAQ had more ugly times ahead but would become a peaceful democracy, U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday.

Appearing frustrated, Mr Rumsfeld told reporters that, despite the violence tearing the country apart, "it will be a stable country, at peace with its neighbours".

"There will be times when it's ugly but, by golly, I think they're going to make it," he said in Adelaide.

Facing growing domestic unpopularity over the war, Mr Rumsfeld said Iraq was "several years" behind Afghanistan but claimed progress was being made.

There now were 211,000 trained and equipped men in the Iraqi security forces.

"It is not a static situation in the country. It's dynamic," Mr Rumsfeld said. "As these forces are better trained, better equipped and more capable . . . they are taking over more and more responsibility within that country."

No one was prepared to guess how much longer foreign troops, including the Australians, would be needed.

Australia's Defence Minister, Robert Hill, envisaged the 450 Australians in the al Muthanna province protecting the Japanese and training Iraqis, would be finished by the middle of next year.

Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer, however, said there were likely to be other roles after that. "We would look at the situation at the time as to whether we would take up some new opportunity or whether we wouldn't," he said.

"We just have an open mind about that at this stage and we will just have to wait and see what the situation is on the ground."

Mr Downer dismissed comments from a spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari that the south of the country was peaceful and the Australians could leave now.

"No such message has been transmitted to the Japanese or us or to the British who have an overall responsibility in the Al Muthanna area so," he said. Mr Downer said, however, that could change after December 15 when the Iraqis elect a permanent Government. "The new government will develop its own policies on these questions and we'll have to wait and see," he said.

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said the Australians should have told the U.S. the current troop rotation would be the last.

Yesterday's meeting only touched on Guantanamo inmate David Hicks whom Mr Rumsfeld said was receiving "excellent treatment".

He said claims of abuse by Mr Hicks and other inmates was a tactic contained in a captured terrorist manual.

© Advertiser Newspapers Pty Limited
http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17292733%255E911,00.html