The warning from Ryan Crocker, the United States ambassador to Iraq gives this warning as the United States Democratic hopefuls and frontrunners Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have talked about timetables of getting troops out of the country. Crocker said that withdrawals have to be handled delicately or there will be a new cycle of violence that will be born from the ashes of the old one.
Obama said he is for a full withdrawal at the end of 2008. Clinton said she will set a timetable on troop withdrawals if she is elected. In regards to troop withdrawals, Crocker said it should be on the situation taking place on the ground and not set by politicians in Washington, DC.
“For all the progress that has been achieved over the past year there are still a strong sectarian tensions,” Crocker had explained.
He added: “There is still an al-Qaeda presence, there is still foreign interference particularly in Iran.
“Now all of these things can spark a new cycle of instability and violence if we’re not very very careful and closely linked with the Iraqis on what the next step should be.”
Crocker noted that Iran continues to support militias in Iraq. At the same time, Iran officially supports Iraq’s current government.
Crocker has pointed out major concerns. It is very likely that troop withdrawals will be a major topic in the Democratic debates and the general election debates.
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