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WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 3, 2008) - The chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff expressed confidence yesterday that Washington and
Baghdad will reach an agreement before the year's end on the future
role of U.S. forces in Iraq.
Navy Adm. Mike Mullen also discussed his outlook on past and
present U.S. humanitarian relief missions in a Pentagon Channel
podcast interview.
Mullen praised the bilateral dialogue between the U.S. and Iraq,
where Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice paid a one-day visit last
month to discuss the status of forces agreement with Iraqi
counterparts.
"There's actually great debate about this right now, and I think
that's pretty healthy," Mullen said.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has expressed the desire
for Iraqi sovereignty and independence, which the United States
encourages, Mullen said.
"That's one of the things that we've encouraged as his
burgeoning democracy comes forward," he said.
The deadline for a United Nations mandate allowing the U.S. and
Iraq to negotiate a status of forces deal is Dec. 31, after which
American forces may not legally remain in Iraq without an agreement
in place.
"We really need to make sure that that agreement is in place,"
Mullen said. "And from my view -- while certainly it's not done,
because people are still working it -- it's all headed in the right
direction."
Meanwhile, coalition forces handed over provincial control of
Anbar province to Iraqis this week, a development that Mullen said
indicates continued security improvement.
"Two years ago, not many of us would have thought that
possible," he said, referring to the handover of what formerly was
one of the most violent regions of Iraq. "I'm hopeful we can move
forward and continue to reduce our force levels there."
On humanitarian relief, Mullen said the U.S. military's
flexibility enables it to intervene swiftly in the wake of natural
or other disasters.
"It says a lot about what our capability is, what our
flexibility is, and also our presence, our engagement around the
world, because we've been able to respond very quickly, typically
by air and by sea," he said.
The chairman added that the average servicemember engaged in a
relief effort later describes it as a source of pride.
"Typically, they tell you that they've never been prouder of
carrying out a mission than when they were able to carry out this
kind of humanitarian mission and disaster relief," he said.
Mullen cited the U.S. relief roles following earthquakes in
China and Pakistan, and a humanitarian mission after a cyclone hit
Burma and a tsunami struck Indonesia.
"It's the kind of engagement and support that has an impact not
just in the disaster, but has an impact on the long-term
relationships," he said, citing the United States' ongoing mission
in Georgia as an example.
"I think it says a lot about the United States military," Mullen
said, "and a lot about the United States of America: that we care,
that we are engaged in a way that has a positive impact on
lives."
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