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'Contingency plans' for Iraq
25/05/2007 12:17 - (SA)
Washington - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates played down expectations for rapid progress in Iraq on Thursday and said US officials are now looking more to local groups than to the central government for progress on reconciliation.
Gates denied that his top general in Iraq is developing a new strategy but said contingency planning is under way for what might happen after a September assessment of a "surge" in US forces.
"I mean, we're as impatient for this thing to turn in a positive direction as anybody, maybe more so," Gates told reporters.
"And, you know, I'd give anything to have to stop doing as many of these condolence letters that I'm writing. It's a terrible thing and people are suffering.
"But we can't turn it around overnight," he said.
Gates was asked whether US moves to engage groups at local level reflected scaled back expectations for broad, political reconciliation and passage of key pieces of legislation.
"All of the above," he said.
He questioned whether there had been too much focus on building up the central government, both in Iraq and Afghanistan, and not enough on provincial, tribal and other groups that also play an important role.
"I think the reality is that we need to continue our efforts to strengthen the central governments and the ministries in both countries. But I think reaching out and working with these other groups is also important," he said.
"This is a place where I think you can walk and chew gum at the same time," he added.
- AFP
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