August 1st, 2008 by Sarah

In the Washington Post yesterday, Henry Kissinger weighs in on the debate surrounding a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops.   

Kissinger strongly opposes a timetable for withdrawal and argues that “establishing a deadline is the surest way to undermine the hopeful prospects. It will encourage largely defeated internal groups to go underground until a world more congenial to their survival arises with the departure of American forces. Al-Qaeda will have a deadline against which to plan a full-scale resumption of operations. And it will give Iran an incentive to strengthen its supporters in the Shiite community for the period after the American withdrawal. Establishing a fixed deadline would also dissipate assets needed for the diplomatic endgame.”

Posted in Iraq, Military, US foreign policy |