US defense chief envisions long-term military presence in Iraq
1/6/2007 16:22
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said yesterday that he envisions
some level of American troops in Iraq for a "protracted period of time,"
possibly under a South Korea-like security arrangement and with the agreement of
the Iraqi government.
"What I'm thinking in terms of is a mutual agreement
where some force of Americans -- mutually agreed with mutually agreed missions
-- is present for a protracted period of time," Gates said in Hawaii, where was
visiting the US Pacific Command in Hawaii on the way to security talks in
Singapore.
"I think that the reason Korea has been mentioned is -- and it's
been mentioned in contrast to Vietnam, where we just left lock, stock and barrel
-- the idea is more a model of a mutually agreed arrangement whereby we have an
enduring presence, but one that is by consent of both parties, and under certain
conditions," Gates said.
On the issue of US forces in Iraq, US President
George W. Bush has cited the South Korea security arrangement -- a more than
50-year US presence -- in looking to the future role of the US in Iraq.
"I
think the point (the president) is trying to make is that the situation in Iraq,
and indeed, the larger war on terror, are things that are going to take a long
time," White House spokesman Tony Snow said Wednesday.
Currently there are
about 147,000 US troops in Iraq, and when the military buildup, announced by
Bush in January this year, is compete, the number would reach as high as
160,000.
Xinhua
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