Posted 5-8-08

Hasty US Exit from Iraq a Danger, Iraqi Minister Says

By Penny Starr
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer

Washington (CNSNews.com) - A quick withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq would endanger not only Iraq but the entire Middle East, Fawzi Hariri, Iraq's minister of industry, warned on Wednesday. Some congressional Democrats are pressing for an immediate troop withdrawal, and both Democratic presidential hopefuls have said it's time to bring the troops home.

"The removal of (U.S.) forces, especially in a fast and quick way, will not only put Iraq in danger, but it will put the whole region in danger," Hariri said at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. "I don't believe even some of the most outspoken regional countries that are anti-U.S.-presence-in-Iraq will accept a quick and fast withdrawal of the U.S. forces."

Hariri joined with Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Paul Brinkley to announce successes in the ongoing efforts to establish a flourishing economy in Iraq -- a key element, they said, to a lasting peace and a stable government in the country. Brinkley heads the Task Force to Improve Business and Stability Operations in Iraq.

"(The economy) is critical to the Department of Defense and the overall mission in Iraq," Brinkley said. "It is the element of stability ... that will enable normal life to take hold and will enable us as we draw down our presence in Iraq to leave behind a stable and prosperous country."

Hariri said rapid troop withdrawal would have a significant impact on the stability needed in Iraq to continue economic progress.

"Clearly, as it stands now (in) its military capacity, (Iraq) is unable to sustain any foreign intervention on its own," Hariri said.

Brinkley said that his task force has embedded business experts with U.S. troops in every region of the country over the last two years, resulting in significant job creation.

"The results we're going to announce today are (that) the task force has restored employment and support, in partnership with the Iraqi government, to over 100,000 people," Brinkley said. "These are not temporary jobs. These are sustained, professional, manufacturing jobs."

Working with the task force, the Iraqi government is privatizing state-owned industry to operate in a free-market economy. The task force also is helping the economy in Iraq by awarding contracts to local businesses, with 3,900 businesses receiving more than $1 billion in contracts since 2006, when the task force was formed.

Brinkley said international companies are beginning to set up manufacturing operations in Iraq, including Daimler AG and Caterpillar.

A strong economy in Iraq also will strengthen the U.S. economy, said Brinkley, who cited a $2 billion contract Boeing recently signed with the Iraqi government to build 40 commercial aircraft.

"These aircraft are going to be manufactured in Washington state, creating American jobs," Brinkley said. "When the Iraqi economy gets on its feet it will begin to consume its own goods, its own services, and the beneficial relationships that will take hold between the United States and other countries and Iraq will create employment here, in addition to in Iraq."

Brinkley said building a flourishing economy also is important to a significant portion of the more than 26 million Iraqi citizens.

"Roughly 50 percent of the population ... are under the age of 15," Brinkley said. "Economic development in Iraq is critical, not in the immediate term, but in the long term. There has to be a vibrant economy in place to absorb that young population who are going to grow up and expect a better life."

Congress has appropriated $50 million to revitalize the Iraqi economy in its 2007 supplemental budget. Hariri said the Iraqi government is also investing billions to rebuild its economy, including $5 billion targeted for job creation.