For Iraq, Powell fears a 'bloody' summer
Brian Knowlton/IHT IHT Monday, June 14, 2004
But a pullout is not an option, he says
WASHINGTON After a weekend of violence in both Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State Colin Powell warned Sunday that Iraqis could face a long, bloody summer and that for Saudi Arabia, ‘‘clearly this is a dangerous time’’ that may require the kingdom to build up its forces against terrorism. ‘‘It’s going to be a dangerous period,’’ Powell said on NBC television, referring to Iraq.
.
But Powell added that failure, in the form of a precipitous U.S. withdrawal under pressure, ‘‘is not an option for us.’’
.
With Iraq fast approaching the formal June 30 handover of power to an interim government, and fears rising that Saudi unrest could further propel oil prices, Powell acknowledged the severity of security challenges.
.
Asked whether it could be ‘‘a long, hot bloody summer’’ in Iraq, he replied, ‘‘Yes, it could be, and it’s long and hot and bloody right now.’’ As to Saudi Arabia, he said, ‘‘We don’t like the situation we’re in right now.’’
.
The Saudi rulers understood, Powell said on ABC television, that attacks on foreign workers in the kingdom amounted to ‘‘a direct attack against the Saudi regime.’’ Matters were not yet unraveling, he said on NBC, ‘‘but it’s certainly a dangerous situation right now.’’ ‘‘Terrorists are going after the Saudi leadership,’’ he said. ‘‘They’re trying to make the country unstable.’’
.
Asked what steps Saudi rulers could take, Powell replied that they could build up their forces, improve intelligence cooperation and do more to cut off terrorist funding.
.
Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser, was asked in a separate appearance what advice she would give American workers in Saudi Arabia. She noted that the State Department had drawn down its presence there and advised against nonessential travel by American citizens. Beyond that, she said, people would have to draw their own conclusions.
.
The Bush administration now gives the Saudi government higher marks than before for working hard to fight terrorism. Powell said that the Saudis were treating the threat ‘‘with utmost seriousness.’’ In Iraq, he said, U.S.-led military forces would be getting increasing support from a growing and increasingly competent Iraqi police force and a military with new international support.
.
As President George W. Bush said last week, Powell and Rice said that they did not expect that the UN resolution on Iraq, which passed last week, would lead to a major commitment of NATO troops. But both said limited support was possible, including help with police or army training. ‘‘We are examining the possibility of a NATO headquarters becoming involved,’’ Powell added.
.
The interim Iraqi president, Ghazi al-Yawar, said Sunday that he expected the bulk of U.S. forces to leave his country within six to 12 months — sooner than the 18 months for which the UN resolution provides a mandate.
.
Yawar did not suggest that the new government would press the United States to leave before security was assured. But he indicated that he planned to mark respectful differences from the U.S.-led occupying forces.
.
He said, for example, that it would make no sense to follow Bush’s call to raze the Abu Ghraib prison after the abuse scandal there. Powell said he would not argue with such an Iraqi government decision.
.
And Yawar said it was important that a U.S.-led multinational force not undertake missions like the earlier siege of Falluja, which might make military sense but carry a high political price.
.
International Herald Tribune
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< < Back to Start of Article But a pullout is not an option, he says
WASHINGTON After a weekend of violence in both Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State Colin Powell warned Sunday that Iraqis could face a long, bloody summer and that for Saudi Arabia, ‘‘clearly this is a dangerous time’’ that may require the kingdom to build up its forces against terrorism. ‘‘It’s going to be a dangerous period,’’ Powell said on NBC television, referring to Iraq.
.
But Powell added that failure, in the form of a precipitous U.S. withdrawal under pressure, ‘‘is not an option for us.’’
.
With Iraq fast approaching the formal June 30 handover of power to an interim government, and fears rising that Saudi unrest could further propel oil prices, Powell acknowledged the severity of security challenges.
.
Asked whether it could be ‘‘a long, hot bloody summer’’ in Iraq, he replied, ‘‘Yes, it could be, and it’s long and hot and bloody right now.’’ As to Saudi Arabia, he said, ‘‘We don’t like the situation we’re in right now.’’
.
The Saudi rulers understood, Powell said on ABC television, that attacks on foreign workers in the kingdom amounted to ‘‘a direct attack against the Saudi regime.’’ Matters were not yet unraveling, he said on NBC, ‘‘but it’s certainly a dangerous situation right now.’’ ‘‘Terrorists are going after the Saudi leadership,’’ he said. ‘‘They’re trying to make the country unstable.’’
.
Asked what steps Saudi rulers could take, Powell replied that they could build up their forces, improve intelligence cooperation and do more to cut off terrorist funding.
.
Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser, was asked in a separate appearance what advice she would give American workers in Saudi Arabia. She noted that the State Department had drawn down its presence there and advised against nonessential travel by American citizens. Beyond that, she said, people would have to draw their own conclusions.
.
The Bush administration now gives the Saudi government higher marks than before for working hard to fight terrorism. Powell said that the Saudis were treating the threat ‘‘with utmost seriousness.’’ In Iraq, he said, U.S.-led military forces would be getting increasing support from a growing and increasingly competent Iraqi police force and a military with new international support.
.
As President George W. Bush said last week, Powell and Rice said that they did not expect that the UN resolution on Iraq, which passed last week, would lead to a major commitment of NATO troops. But both said limited support was possible, including help with police or army training. ‘‘We are examining the possibility of a NATO headquarters becoming involved,’’ Powell added.
.
The interim Iraqi president, Ghazi al-Yawar, said Sunday that he expected the bulk of U.S. forces to leave his country within six to 12 months — sooner than the 18 months for which the UN resolution provides a mandate.
.
Yawar did not suggest that the new government would press the United States to leave before security was assured. But he indicated that he planned to mark respectful differences from the U.S.-led occupying forces.
.
He said, for example, that it would make no sense to follow Bush’s call to raze the Abu Ghraib prison after the abuse scandal there. Powell said he would not argue with such an Iraqi government decision.
.
And Yawar said it was important that a U.S.-led multinational force not undertake missions like the earlier siege of Falluja, which might make military sense but carry a high political price.
.
International Herald Tribune But a pullout is not an option, he says
WASHINGTON After a weekend of violence in both Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State Colin Powell warned Sunday that Iraqis could face a long, bloody summer and that for Saudi Arabia, ‘‘clearly this is a dangerous time’’ that may require the kingdom to build up its forces against terrorism. ‘‘It’s going to be a dangerous period,’’ Powell said on NBC television, referring to Iraq.
.
But Powell added that failure, in the form of a precipitous U.S. withdrawal under pressure, ‘‘is not an option for us.’’
.
With Iraq fast approaching the formal June 30 handover of power to an interim government, and fears rising that Saudi unrest could further propel oil prices, Powell acknowledged the severity of security challenges.
.
Asked whether it could be ‘‘a long, hot bloody summer’’ in Iraq, he replied, ‘‘Yes, it could be, and it’s long and hot and bloody right now.’’ As to Saudi Arabia, he said, ‘‘We don’t like the situation we’re in right now.’’
.
The Saudi rulers understood, Powell said on ABC television, that attacks on foreign workers in the kingdom amounted to ‘‘a direct attack against the Saudi regime.’’ Matters were not yet unraveling, he said on NBC, ‘‘but it’s certainly a dangerous situation right now.’’ ‘‘Terrorists are going after the Saudi leadership,’’ he said. ‘‘They’re trying to make the country unstable.’’
.
Asked what steps Saudi rulers could take, Powell replied that they could build up their forces, improve intelligence cooperation and do more to cut off terrorist funding.
.
Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser, was asked in a separate appearance what advice she would give American workers in Saudi Arabia. She noted that the State Department had drawn down its presence there and advised against nonessential travel by American citizens. Beyond that, she said, people would have to draw their own conclusions.
.
The Bush administration now gives the Saudi government higher marks than before for working hard to fight terrorism. Powell said that the Saudis were treating the threat ‘‘with utmost seriousness.’’ In Iraq, he said, U.S.-led military forces would be getting increasing support from a growing and increasingly competent Iraqi police force and a military with new international support.
.
As President George W. Bush said last week, Powell and Rice said that they did not expect that the UN resolution on Iraq, which passed last week, would lead to a major commitment of NATO troops. But both said limited support was possible, including help with police or army training. ‘‘We are examining the possibility of a NATO headquarters becoming involved,’’ Powell added.
.
The interim Iraqi president, Ghazi al-Yawar, said Sunday that he expected the bulk of U.S. forces to leave his country within six to 12 months — sooner than the 18 months for which the UN resolution provides a mandate.
.
Yawar did not suggest that the new government would press the United States to leave before security was assured. But he indicated that he planned to mark respectful differences from the U.S.-led occupying forces.
.
He said, for example, that it would make no sense to follow Bush’s call to raze the Abu Ghraib prison after the abuse scandal there. Powell said he would not argue with such an Iraqi government decision.
.
And Yawar said it was important that a U.S.-led multinational force not undertake missions like the earlier siege of Falluja, which might make military sense but carry a high political price.
.
International Herald Tribune But a pullout is not an option, he says
WASHINGTON After a weekend of violence in both Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State Colin Powell warned Sunday that Iraqis could face a long, bloody summer and that for Saudi Arabia, ‘‘clearly this is a dangerous time’’ that may require the kingdom to build up its forces against terrorism. ‘‘It’s going to be a dangerous period,’’ Powell said on NBC television, referring to Iraq.
.
But Powell added that failure, in the form of a precipitous U.S. withdrawal under pressure, ‘‘is not an option for us.’’
.
With Iraq fast approaching the formal June 30 handover of power to an interim government, and fears rising that Saudi unrest could further propel oil prices, Powell acknowledged the severity of security challenges.
.
Asked whether it could be ‘‘a long, hot bloody summer’’ in Iraq, he replied, ‘‘Yes, it could be, and it’s long and hot and bloody right now.’’ As to Saudi Arabia, he said, ‘‘We don’t like the situation we’re in right now.’’
.
The Saudi rulers understood, Powell said on ABC television, that attacks on foreign workers in the kingdom amounted to ‘‘a direct attack against the Saudi regime.’’ Matters were not yet unraveling, he said on NBC, ‘‘but it’s certainly a dangerous situation right now.’’ ‘‘Terrorists are going after the Saudi leadership,’’ he said. ‘‘They’re trying to make the country unstable.’’
.
Asked what steps Saudi rulers could take, Powell replied that they could build up their forces, improve intelligence cooperation and do more to cut off terrorist funding.
.
Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser, was asked in a separate appearance what advice she would give American workers in Saudi Arabia. She noted that the State Department had drawn down its presence there and advised against nonessential travel by American citizens. Beyond that, she said, people would have to draw their own conclusions.
.
The Bush administration now gives the Saudi government higher marks than before for working hard to fight terrorism. Powell said that the Saudis were treating the threat ‘‘with utmost seriousness.’’ In Iraq, he said, U.S.-led military forces would be getting increasing support from a growing and increasingly competent Iraqi police force and a military with new international support.
.
As President George W. Bush said last week, Powell and Rice said that they did not expect that the UN resolution on Iraq, which passed last week, would lead to a major commitment of NATO troops. But both said limited support was possible, including help with police or army training. ‘‘We are examining the possibility of a NATO headquarters becoming involved,’’ Powell added.
.
The interim Iraqi president, Ghazi al-Yawar, said Sunday that he expected the bulk of U.S. forces to leave his country within six to 12 months — sooner than the 18 months for which the UN resolution provides a mandate.
.
Yawar did not suggest that the new government would press the United States to leave before security was assured. But he indicated that he planned to mark respectful differences from the U.S.-led occupying forces.
.
He said, for example, that it would make no sense to follow Bush’s call to raze the Abu Ghraib prison after the abuse scandal there. Powell said he would not argue with such an Iraqi government decision.
.
And Yawar said it was important that a U.S.-led multinational force not undertake missions like the earlier siege of Falluja, which might make military sense but carry a high political price.
.
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