Iraq – Violence Spurs Concern about Withdrawal
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Published on: May 2nd 2009 21:20:11
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| As the US military begins to shift its focus to a new war in Afghanistan, a recent spike in violence in Iraq has some military commanders worried that their Afghan strategy could falter. Even though President Obama has repeated his commitment to have US combat forces withdraw from Iraq over the next 19 months, potential cracks in the timeline have emerged. US Gen. Raymond Odierno, the top commander in Iraq, stated earlier this month that he has the "flexibility to change" the withdrawal schedule should events on the ground warrant it. Although changes in the proposed timeline would require Iraqi approval, some US officials worry that a series of unresolved political disputes may call for further US attention. Chief among the internal challenges is violence targeting Sunni Awakening groups, the so-called Sons of Iraq, as well as a widening rift between Kurdish and Arab communities. Months of paralysis at the national level have also stalled legislative reforms, including the passage of a hydrocarbon law which, coupled with declines in oil revenues, will deepen the country’s economic crisis. As Iraq’s competing factions work to secure their positions ahead of the American withdrawal, multinational companies also remain cautious about entering the Iraqi market. Concerned about the country’s stability and long-time climate, only few multinationals have engaged in exploratory projects. In Baghdad and Washington, military commanders and politicians are quietly fretting that unresolved governance issues and mounting sectarian tensions will test Washington's exit strategy. |
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