Australia refuses to set target date for withdrawal from Iraq

Source: | 02-16-2007 09:13

Prime Minister John Howard has refused to set a target date for withdrawal of Australian soldiers in Iraq.

Earlier this week, Howard criticized US presidential hopeful Barack Obama for his proposal to pull out American troops early next year.

Barack Obama's call for a withdrawal by 2008 echoed the recommendations of Iraq Study Group commissioned by President Bush. The group's members included the new Pentagon chief Robert Gates, who is believed to agree with the proposal.

Howard said, "I am not going to try and put some target date. That is foolish. The goal is to create a situation where the Iraqis can reasonably provide for their own security. I certainly believe that if the Americans decided to go, then I don't think any other members of the coalition would remain. But America is not about to go."

Editor:Du Xiaodan