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WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 29, 2008) - Iraq is enjoying some
substantial political, and economic progress in addition to better
security, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq said during an interview on
CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" today.
"As security has improved, the environment has changed for the
better," Ryan C. Crocker from Baghdad. "That allows for compromises
to emerge that simply were not possible before."
He pointed to better budget execution as one piece of evidence
pointing toward Iraq's changes for the better, and also noted
provinclial elections are coming up. "Those elections, in the
latter part of this year, will be a very significant step," he
said.
Crocker acknowledged that the United States' work in Iraq is not
over when Candy Crowley, filling in for "Late Edition" host Wolf
Blitzer, asked him about the increase in casualties in some areas
since May.
"Overall, we have seen an improvement in the security situation
and a reduction in casualties, both Iraqi and American," Crocker
said. "We're up against some resilient and determined enemies [who]
have the capacity to hit back, and that's what we're seeing, both
from al-Qaida and its allies and from Shiia militias."
While the enemy may be pushing back, the Iraqi government's
response displays intolerance for these acts and a determination to
reclaim their neighborhoods from the perpetrators, the ambassador
said. Leadership response to a June 24 attack in Baghdad's Sadr
City area aimed at district council members is a prime example,
Crocker said.
On June 26, the council reconvened to hold the election that had
been scheduled for the day of the attack and elected one of the
members who had been wounded as its new chairman. It then denounced
the attackers, publicly thanked the United States for its support,
and extended sympathy to those affected by the attack, Crocker
said.
"We've got more hard work in front of us," he said. "The
fighting is by no means over, but clearly we are in a different and
better place than we were even six months ago."
But while Iraqi security forces are successfully taking
Iranian-backed militias off the street in Basra, Sadr City and
other areas around Iraq, Crocker said, he had no direct answer to
whether there was Iranian activity in Iraq has decreased. But the
channels remain open for talks among the United States, Iraq and
Iran, however, he said.
"I think it's important to have that option," he said. "But
also, it's important to have talks for a purpose, not just for the
sake of having another session. We'll need to choose the timing
when we think it will improve the situation [and] make some
progress."
Until talks happen, Iraq and the United States will push forward
on the current path, one that includes forging an agreement
allowing U.S. servicemembers to remain in Iraq past the expiration
of the U.N. Security Council resolution. The resolution expires at
the end of the year.
The possibility of Iraq wanting the ability to prosecute U.S.
personnel for crimes could be a stumbling block, however. Crocker
outlined where the negotiations stand.
"We're negotiating a very broad set of issues with our Iraqi
partners," Crocker said. "We're operating under some pretty
fundamental principles. One of them is full respect for Iraqi
sovereignty, Iraqi law and the Iraqi process.
"Neither we nor they will put anything into this agreement that
would contravene those principles," he continued. "At the same
time, we do have to have the necessary precautions and
authorizations for our forces to do what they need to do to support
Iraq."
Though work remains to be completed in Iraq, Crocker said, he is
certain the climate is in place for Iraqis to build their country
on all fronts -- security, political and economic.
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