In a roundtable meeting with Iraqi media, U.S. ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill said that Iraq will face a critical year following the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraqi cities.
Echoing statements by President Obama, Hill called on the Iraqi political forces to move quickly to reach political agreements that would support the country’s progress toward stability.
Hill said that the security agreement between Iraq and the U.S. has entered the implementation stage.
The U.S. forces will withdraw even from disputed areas such Mosul and Kirkuk [The Iraqi Kurds demand the annexation of certain areas of Mosul and the entire city of Kirkuk into their Kurdistan Regional Government.]
He said the next stage would be for the U.S. forces to focus on the development effort and away from the military effort.
But added: “We will intervene militarily and logistically in the event the need arises from the Iraqi side.”
By August 2010, the number of U.S. military personnel in Iraq will be reduced from 130,000 to 50,000.
Source: Al-Mada, Iraq, June 28, 2009
