Clinton stresses unity in Iraq

Despite the planned pullout of American troops in Iraq, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton renewed the United States’ dedication to the Middle Eastern nation during her unannounced tour this week.

America “will stand with the people of Iraq”, Clinton said during her first visit to Iraq since being elected to her new post.

By next summer, all troops will be removed from Iraq said President Obama in June 2007, marking a difficult transitional period from now until next year.

“We want to see a stable, sovereign, self-reliant Iraq,” Clinton said to a group of Iraqis.

“The US will stand with the people of Iraq and will look for ways to create a close and important relationship for the future.”

Her remarks come during a violent week in Iraq when three suicide bomb attacks were set off on Thursday and Friday, killing at least 155 people.

Many victims were Iranian pilgrims, and the violence was condemned in Tehran wrote the BBC. No one has taken responsibility for the terrorist attacks.

Some have accused Clinton of downplaying the recent violence, even though this year has seen significantly less bloodshed then years previous.

Clinton said the suicide bombings are a sign that extremists “are an unfortunately tragic way, a signal that the rejectionists fear that Iraq is going in the right direction.”

Clinton is planning on meeting with the top U.S. commander in Iraq, General Ray Odierno, during her unannounced visit to discuss the security situation.  She also is scheduled to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani.

Stressing concord in times of hardship, Clinton said, “There is nothing more important than to have a united Iraq. The more united Iraq is, the more you will trust the security services. The security services have to earn your trust but the people have to demand it.”

Lastly, she promised that the United States would not abandon Iraq after the transition phase is complete.

“I know how hard this will be,” she said. “My own country has struggled for many years with all kinds of divisions and yet, as you know, we have just elected an African American president, someone who is leading all Americans, not just one group or another group.”