Long stay for military in Iraq?

2003-04-06 18:32

Washington - The Pentagon on Sunday did not rule out a prolonged US military presence in Iraq, comparable to that in Germany after World War II.

Asked about the likelihood of such a presence to ensure stability in the region, deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz told Fox News: "It is a possibility."

But he stressed "it is too soon to say what the arrangement would be."

"Many of these issues have to be decided in partnership with an Iraqi government that represents the Iraqi people. And we need to get there to make partnership," he said.

He said a first step would be to set up an administration run by the US-led coalition, which would eventually hand over to Iraqis.

"So we need to set up a process, and this interim authority is a bridge to the process that creates a legitimate government of Iraq," he said.

No timetable for transition

He said he did not have a timetable for the transition at this stage.

"The interim authority is really a bridge from the coalition administration that's going to start to ultimately a legitimate and competent government for Iraq.

"It's going to depend a lot on how people are able to come out from inside the country to express themselves, how able Iraqis are to come together," the US official said.

- AFX