Clinton: ‘Iraqis are ready, willing, and able’
Hillary Clinton, Hoshyar Zebari, April 25, 2009 Today’s the supposed big day: U.S. troops are withdrawing from Iraqi cities. While U.S. troops step down, Iraqi troops are supposed to step up. But can they? Secretary Clinton is confident they can. In a press briefing yesterday, she said, “[T]here is a great deal of confidence in ...
Today's the supposed big day: U.S. troops are withdrawing from Iraqi cities. While U.S. troops step down, Iraqi troops are supposed to step up. But can they?
Secretary Clinton is confident they can. In a press briefing yesterday, she said, "[T]here is a great deal of confidence in the fundamental ability of the Iraqis to begin to protect their citizens." She added that despite the bombings of the last few weeks, "our assessment is that the Iraqis are ready, willing, and able to step up to this."
Today’s the supposed big day: U.S. troops are withdrawing from Iraqi cities. While U.S. troops step down, Iraqi troops are supposed to step up. But can they?
Secretary Clinton is confident they can. In a press briefing yesterday, she said, “[T]here is a great deal of confidence in the fundamental ability of the Iraqis to begin to protect their citizens.” She added that despite the bombings of the last few weeks, “our assessment is that the Iraqis are ready, willing, and able to step up to this.”
She — seen above with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari in Baghdad on April 25 — called the withdrawal a “significant milestone in the responsible withdrawal of our forces from Iraq and in Iraq’s journey to become a stable, sovereign, self-reliant state.”
FP Best Defense blogger Thomas Ricks, however, doesn’t share Clinton’s confidence. Yesterday he wrote:
Yes, Iraqi units are better trained and equipped than in the past. But that was never the problem. Rather, the point of failure was political. Sunni death squads and Shiite militias knew what they were fighting for, while an Iraqi soldier didn’t necessarily.
He ends ominously:
I hope I am wrong, and that Iraq really is embarking on a new course this week. But I don’t think so. So I think the real question now is: How fast will the unraveling occur?
What’s Clinton going to do if Iraq does unravel? She said the United States remains prepared to help out if needed. Obviously, she’s constrained by whatever President Obama wants to do, but if — heaven forbid — Iraq falls apart, she’ll be facing some pretty tough questions at her future news conferences.
Photo: Hadi Mizban-Pool/Getty Images
More from Foreign Policy
Lessons for the Next War
Twelve experts weigh in on how to prevent, deter, and—if necessary—fight the next conflict.
It’s High Time to Prepare for Russia’s Collapse
Not planning for the possibility of disintegration betrays a dangerous lack of imagination.
Turkey Is Sending Cold War-Era Cluster Bombs to Ukraine
The artillery-fired cluster munitions could be lethal to Russian troops—and Ukrainian civilians.
Congrats, You’re a Member of Congress. Now Listen Up.
Some brief foreign-policy advice for the newest members of the U.S. legislature.
Sign up for Morning Brief
Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter with what’s coming up around the world today. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
