Iraq will develop a timetable for political & security progress

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Source: CCTV.com | 10-25-2006 14:43

Special Report:   Iraq in Transition

The United States says the Iraqi government has agreed to develop a timetable for political and security progress by the end of the year. With the US midterm elections just two weeks away, the White House has confirmed that US President George W. Bush will no longer use the term "stay the course" when referring to the conflict in Iraq.

US Ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said on Tuesday that the Iraqi government had agreed to develop a timetable for progress by the end of the year. But he also stressed that success in Iraq is possible.

Zalmay Khalilzad, US ambassador to Iraq said, “Our goal is to enable Iraqis to develop a multi-ethnic, multi-sectarian representative democracy after decades of tyranny. The American people know that this is very difficult, but at the same time very important. My message today is straightforward. Despite the difficult challenges we face, success in Iraq is possible and can be achieved on a realistic time table.”

Together with the ambassador, the top US commander in Iraq, General George Casey, said Iraqi forces should eventually be able to take full control of security in the country. He gave a timeframe of the next 12 to 18 months with some level of support.