Unrest Builds Again In Iraq
As more unrest is engulfing Iraq, speculation started to stir the headlines that it was a wrong move for the United States to leave Iraq in 2011.
In an interview with Nieuwsuur in Hague in Netherlands, Assistant Secretary Victoria Nuland addressed the issue by saying it was an Iraqi decision to be work on its independence and addressed its security issues.
“We have in this instance offered certain kinds of support for their security effort and we’ll continue to do that.” – Ms. Nuland
US Concerned With Recent Unrest In Iraq
According to Ms. Nuland, the US government is watching with concern the situation on the ground in Iraq.
Ms. Nuland pointed out that Vice President Biden was in touch with key Iraqi leaders in the past 36 hours to urge them to work together and to work with tribal leaders and others in the key cities in Fallujah and Ramadi.
Vice President Biden encouraged the Iraqi leaders to say no to terror, to stand up to taking Iraq backwards, and for Iraqis to manage their security together.
US Helps Iraq In Security Issues
Ms. Nuland highlighted that the US is focused now with the Iraqis on their capacity as citizens of their country to manage their security issues together, to manage it across confessional lines, to manage it across political lines.
“That’s what they want to do with our support, with the support of European countries as well.” – Ms. Nuland
The US wants Iraqis to manage their own security challenges.
US Troops Left Iraq
In December 2011, the last convoy of U.S. soldiers pulled out of Iraq.
The move signaled the end of nearly nine years of war that cost almost 4,500 American and many of thousands of Iraqi lives.
The war was launched in March 2003 in an aim to oust President Saddam Hussein.
During the war, more than 170,000 American troops were in Iraq at more than 500 bases.