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Statement of John Kerry on Building International Support fo

Daily newsbrief journal for July 2004, also see http://www.usdemocrats.com/brief for a global 100-page perpetual brief and follow twitter @usdemocrats


Statement of John Kerry on Building International Support fo

Postby admin » Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:47 am

Statement of John Kerry on Building International Support for Our Mission in Iraqhttp://www.noticias.info/Asp/aspCom ... c=0Senator John Kerry issued the following statement today on building international support for our mission in Iraq: “I’ve been saying for some time how critical it is to get additional resources and troops from our allies into Iraq. There have been three great opportunities for the Bush Administration to do so. First, the President broke his promise to build a legitimate coalition in Iraq by exhausting diplomacy before resorting to the use of military force. Second, when the statue fell in Baghdad, Kofi Annan invited the United States to come to the table to discuss international support – but we rejected it. Third, when the President addressed the United Nations last fall, he refused, once again, to acknowledge the difficulties our country was facing in Iraq and failed to elicit support from other nations. “Now, at next week’s NATO Summit in Istanbul, we have what may be our last chance to secure that support. It is clearer than ever that additional troops and resources would support our mission in Iraq, relieve the pressure on our troops and improve the interim Iraqi government’s opportunity for success. Like all Americans, I can only hope it is not too late. “Right now, we have far too few international troops taking part in the urgent task of achieving a secure Iraq. The United States has nearly 140,000 troops in Iraq, where other nations have about 20,000. And the United States is bearing the vast share – nearly 90 percent – of the cost. “The world has a stake in a successful transition and a stable Iraq. The United Nations Security Council made clear in its unanimous resolution, that Iraq is the world’s problem and that a multinational security force is essential to success. Resolution 1546 calls directly for assistance – including military forces – from ‘international and regional organizations’ like NATO. I hope the NATO countries will live up to that resolution and act on what is in their national interest. In short, this NATO summit is a clear test of their resolve. And a clear test of ours. “In order to help achieve this goal, the Administration should invite Iraq’s new interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, to attend the NATO Summit to discuss the role NATO can and should play in Iraq. That will put NATO countries to the test: Will they respond to an appeal from the legitimate representative of the Iraqi people? “Some of our allies have been reluctant to engage NATO in Iraq. In light of the failed diplomacy of the Bush Administration, that reluctance is not surprising. But now is the time that our allies must join the effort to support Iraq’s transition. The NATO Summit is the perfect opportunity for them to demonstrate their commitment to the new UN resolution. “There are several steps NATO can take. “First, NATO can help train the Iraqi military and police, which remain unprepared to combat the insurgency and impose law and order in Iraq. “Second, NATO can provide forces to help secure Iraq’s borders with Syria and Iran where US troops are short-handed. “Third, NATO can offer to provide security for Iraq’s elections, which are critical to a successful transition. “Fourth, NATO can provide a security force to protect the UN Mission in Iraq. “Together these steps can help America achieve our mission of a stable Iraq on the path to democracy. It is long past time that President Bush obtains concrete international support – in the form of troops and money – so that America’s troops and American taxpayers aren’t bearing the bulk of this burden.”
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