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US to up intelligence in Iraq

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-11 09:19

BAGHDAD: US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Sunday for greater intelligence cooperation between the US and Iraq as the American military moves to withdraw its forces from the country by 2012.

Pelosi told reporters she had discussed intelligence sharing with Iraqi lawmakers after she arrived for a one-day visit. She was accompanied by Representatives Rush Holt, a New Jersey Democrat who chairs a House committee that oversees US intelligence operations.

"If we are going to have a diminished physical military presence, we are have to have a strong intelligence presence," Pelosi said.

Pelosi, a California Democrat and strong critic of the US-led 2003 invasion, did not elaborate.

Last Tuesday, however, Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said that Iraqi forces were ready to take over their own security but needed help gathering intelligence to target insurgents and prevent attacks.

The US is also keen to ensure that Al-Qaida in Iraq and other threat groups do not reconstitute their ranks as the US draws down ahead of the 2012 deadline.

Related readings:  UN: Security improves in Iraq's south  Iraq insists on US leaving cities by June 30  Iraq confirms capture of top al-Qaida leader  Iraq study: Executions are leading cause of death  Ex-soldier could get death in Iraq rape, slayings

The former US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, said Sunday that he expected Al-Qaida "will continue to try to reestablish itself in Iraq" although the terror group's senior leadership "appears to have shifted away somewhat" from operations here.

Those threat groups also include Shi'ite extremists which the US believes are funded and supported by Iran, Iraq's neighbor to the east. Teheran denies the charge.

President Barack Obama has called for removing all US combat troops from Iraq by September of next year.

Appearing with Pelosi, Iraq's newly elected parliament speaker, Ayad Al-Samarraie, said the two sides also discussed the implementation of the various agreements governing the presence of American troops and their eventual withdrawal.

"We are aware that there are problems, but both the Iraqi government and parliament are trying to make use of the partnership between us and the United States in order to solve problems," Al-Samarraie said.

AP