This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7254038.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| US envoy warns over Iraq pullout | US envoy warns over Iraq pullout |
| (2 days later) | |
| The US ambassador in Baghdad has cautioned of the dangers of over-hasty withdrawals of military forces in Iraq. | The US ambassador in Baghdad has cautioned of the dangers of over-hasty withdrawals of military forces in Iraq. |
| Ryan Crocker's warning comes as Democratic candidates in the US presidential race talk of setting timetables for pulling out troops. | Ryan Crocker's warning comes as Democratic candidates in the US presidential race talk of setting timetables for pulling out troops. |
| The ambassador told the BBC a recent improvement in the current security situation was not irreversible. | The ambassador told the BBC a recent improvement in the current security situation was not irreversible. |
| He warned a new cycle of violence could start up if withdrawals were not handled very carefully. | He warned a new cycle of violence could start up if withdrawals were not handled very carefully. |
| For all the progress that has been achieved over the past year there are still a strong sectarian tensions... There is still an al-Qaeda presence, there is still foreign interference particularly in Iran Ryan Crocker class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7256864.stm">Text of full interview Democratic contender Barack Obama has said he favours a full withdrawal by the end of next year, while Hillary Clinton says she will set a timetable within two months if she is elected. | |
| Ambassador Crocker did not comment directly on the candidates and their views, but he stressed his own long-standing conviction that future withdrawals should depend on conditions on the ground - not on timetables set in Washington. | Ambassador Crocker did not comment directly on the candidates and their views, but he stressed his own long-standing conviction that future withdrawals should depend on conditions on the ground - not on timetables set in Washington. |
| Tensions | Tensions |
| To remove that consideration, he said, would be to take an unacceptable risk. | To remove that consideration, he said, would be to take an unacceptable risk. |
| "For all the progress that has been achieved over the past year there are still a strong sectarian tensions," Mr Crocker said. | "For all the progress that has been achieved over the past year there are still a strong sectarian tensions," Mr Crocker said. |
| Mr Crocker became the ambassador in Baghdad in March 2007 | Mr Crocker became the ambassador in Baghdad in March 2007 |
| "There is still an al-Qaeda presence, there is still foreign interference particularly in Iran. | "There is still an al-Qaeda presence, there is still foreign interference particularly in Iran. |
| "Now all of these things can spark a new cycle of instability and violence if we're not very very careful and closely linked with the Iraqis on what the next step should be." | "Now all of these things can spark a new cycle of instability and violence if we're not very very careful and closely linked with the Iraqis on what the next step should be." |
| The current American troop surge is to be finished by July. After that, US military commanders and Mr Crocker advocate a pause for assessment before reducing troop numbers below the pre-surge levels of around 130,000. | The current American troop surge is to be finished by July. After that, US military commanders and Mr Crocker advocate a pause for assessment before reducing troop numbers below the pre-surge levels of around 130,000. |
| The ambassador said Iran was continuing to support extremist militias in Iraq despite official support for the Iraqi government. | The ambassador said Iran was continuing to support extremist militias in Iraq despite official support for the Iraqi government. |
| He hoped the visit by the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in early March would prompt Iran to bring its practices into line with its policies. | He hoped the visit by the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in early March would prompt Iran to bring its practices into line with its policies. |