Iraq not ready to decide on US troops

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday on an unannounced visit to an air base north of Baghdad that the new Iraqi government is not yet ready to decide on security issues that will determine the pace of US troop reductions this year.

Speaking to reporters on a flight from Afghanistan, Rumsfeld said the Iraqis are embarked "on a comprehensive review" of their security requirements, as well an effort to reconcile Sunni and Shiite groups to broaden political support for the government.

Asked how long that might take, he said, "I don't talk deadlines."

There now are about 129,000 US troops in Iraq and US officials have expressed hope that the total could be reduced to 100,000 by the end of the year, with further cuts in 2007. Rumsfeld's remarks suggested that the timing and scope of troops cuts is still in doubt.

Rumsfeld was met at his airplane by General George Casey, the top US commander in Iraq. They were was holding a town hall style meeting with troops at the air base, a major logistics hub for the distribution of supplies to troops throughout Iraq, and later meeting with Iraqi and US military and civilian officials.

Rumsfeld also indicated on his flight to Iraq that he did not expect any change for now in the legal arrangement under which US troops fighting in Iraq are immune from domestic laws. Some Iraqi leaders have questioned that immunity in light of a recent string of allegations of murder and other atrocities committed by US troops against Iraqi civilians.

He said the Iraqis are free to say what they want, but that with regard to the handling of allegations against US service members, "It's being handled as it should be."

He indicated no heightened level of concern about the conduct of US troops and said he did not intend to raise the matter in his talks with top commanders, although he did not rule out that they might raise it with him.

Among the most recent cases is the alleged rape and slaying of a young Iraqi woman and the killing of her family members in Mahmoudiyah.

"Ninety-nine percent of the American troops and the coalition forces are performing in a highly professional and a courageous and skillful way," he said. "When allegations like this come up like this obviously it hurts the 99.9 percent of the troops as much as anybody."

In his in-flight remarks to reporters, Rumsfeld emphasized the importance of an Iraqi political reconciliation.

"It's as much a political task as anything," he said. "They're going to have to engage in a reconciliation process" between Sunni and Shiite groups, including the Shiite militias that are engaging in acts of intimidation and violence in the Baghdad area, he said.

Asked what the reconciliation process will entail, he said it would boil down to the Iraqis convincing as many people as possible to support the new government.

"Anyone that doesn't want to, they're going to have to go find and do something about -- that's what I mean," he said.

"We're at a point now where the security situation depends as much on the reconciliation process" and the strengthening of government ministries, including the justice system, he said. "Success in those areas will determine the success from a security standpoint. They have a big job."

Rumsfeld emphasized he was not planning to discuss plans for reducing US troop levels during this visit.

"I regret to say that until they [the Iraqis] undertake a comprehensive review of their circumstance," it will not be possible to decide on US troops levels for the remainder of 2006, he said.