.Rumsfeld Eyes North African Troops to Iraq: Report
ALGIERS, February 13, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is seeking during his multi-leg North African tour to convince leaders of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco of sending troops to Iraq to replace US occupation forces expected to be withdrawn from the war-torn country in a couple of months, well-placed Algerian sources said on Monday, February 13.
"Rumsfeld's visit is the first by a US defense secretary to Algeria since it gained its independence and is aimed primarily to get Algerian approval of sending troops to Iraq and enhance military and anti-terror cooperation," the sources, who requested anonymity, told IslamOnline.net.
Algerian pundits ruled out that the US request would go through on the nod in Algeria, citing recent statements made by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who said that peace and stability in Iraq were linked to the Arab country's total sovereignty over its territory and national wealth.
They said Bouteflika's statements indicated that he wanted to steer clear of the US limbo in Iraq and he would only deal with an independent Iraq.
"Algeria pretty knows that the US is in a dire need of an Arab military cover for its occupation of Iraq. Bouteflika further knows that it is a thorny public issue," they added.
Arab foreign ministers have frequently rebuffed an American request to send troops to Iraq and the US announced on December 23 scaling back its forces in Iraq in 2006.
A draft resolution, tabled by Representative John Murtha calling for the "immediate" withdrawal of the 160,000 US troops in Iraq, was defeated in the Senate in November.
The total US death toll in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion reached 2,267 according to Pentagon figures last updated on Thursday, February 9.
"Military Bases"
Rumsfeld has also tackled with Algerian Prime Minister and acting Defense Minister Abdelmalek Guenaizia how to put a stop to illegal immigration to Western Europe, other sources close to the talks told IOL.
"Rumsfeld was afraid that some of the immigrants were potential terrorists, who could carry out devastating operations in Europe," they said, speaking on condition not to be named.
Rumsfeld, who arrived in Morocco Sunday night, told Moroccan Assahra Al-Maghribia newspaper in an interview published Monday that the United States was concerned about the risk of terrorist activities by Al-Qaeda in the Sahara region.
"We and our partners in north Africa remain concerned about the ability of violent extremists to operate in the Sahara," Rumsfeld told the official newspaper.
Rumsfeld said that Al-Qaeda and its affiliates seek out remote areas "where the rule of law is difficult to enforce as they seek to set up new bases of operations."
Observers, however, did not buy Rumsfeld's warnings, saying that the US was planning to establish US military bases in the region and spying centers.
In Tunis, Rumsfeld said that the United States and Tunisia were discussing a "status of forces agreement" that would enable an expansion of US-Tunisian military exercises and other activities.
He praised the Maghareb countries as "constructive partners" in the war on terrorism.
"We are continuing to participate with these three countries one way or another on military-to-military relations and that is something we value and want to strengthen," he said.
Islam Online
"Rumsfeld's visit is the first by a US defense secretary to Algeria since it gained its independence and is aimed primarily to get Algerian approval of sending troops to Iraq and enhance military and anti-terror cooperation," the sources, who requested anonymity, told IslamOnline.net.
Algerian pundits ruled out that the US request would go through on the nod in Algeria, citing recent statements made by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who said that peace and stability in Iraq were linked to the Arab country's total sovereignty over its territory and national wealth.
They said Bouteflika's statements indicated that he wanted to steer clear of the US limbo in Iraq and he would only deal with an independent Iraq.
"Algeria pretty knows that the US is in a dire need of an Arab military cover for its occupation of Iraq. Bouteflika further knows that it is a thorny public issue," they added.
Arab foreign ministers have frequently rebuffed an American request to send troops to Iraq and the US announced on December 23 scaling back its forces in Iraq in 2006.
A draft resolution, tabled by Representative John Murtha calling for the "immediate" withdrawal of the 160,000 US troops in Iraq, was defeated in the Senate in November.
The total US death toll in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion reached 2,267 according to Pentagon figures last updated on Thursday, February 9.
"Military Bases"
Rumsfeld has also tackled with Algerian Prime Minister and acting Defense Minister Abdelmalek Guenaizia how to put a stop to illegal immigration to Western Europe, other sources close to the talks told IOL.
"Rumsfeld was afraid that some of the immigrants were potential terrorists, who could carry out devastating operations in Europe," they said, speaking on condition not to be named.
Rumsfeld, who arrived in Morocco Sunday night, told Moroccan Assahra Al-Maghribia newspaper in an interview published Monday that the United States was concerned about the risk of terrorist activities by Al-Qaeda in the Sahara region.
"We and our partners in north Africa remain concerned about the ability of violent extremists to operate in the Sahara," Rumsfeld told the official newspaper.
Rumsfeld said that Al-Qaeda and its affiliates seek out remote areas "where the rule of law is difficult to enforce as they seek to set up new bases of operations."
Observers, however, did not buy Rumsfeld's warnings, saying that the US was planning to establish US military bases in the region and spying centers.
In Tunis, Rumsfeld said that the United States and Tunisia were discussing a "status of forces agreement" that would enable an expansion of US-Tunisian military exercises and other activities.
He praised the Maghareb countries as "constructive partners" in the war on terrorism.
"We are continuing to participate with these three countries one way or another on military-to-military relations and that is something we value and want to strengthen," he said.
Islam Online
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