In testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on July 27, Mattis
provided a sober assessment of Iraq's capabilities and prospects, Middle East Newsline reported. A Marine
Corps officer, Mattis said he envisioned Iraq's need for U.S. help for years
to come, but stressed this would not stop the accelerated American military
withdrawal from the country. During the general's testimony, Adm. Michael
Mullen, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, began a visit to
Baghdad to examine pullout plans.
"The Iraqis still need our help as they continue to build their
capabilities in order to protect against malign external influences seeking
to foment ethno-sectarian violence and distrust," Mattis said.
The assessment was the latest in warnings by President Barack Obama and
senior military commanders of the continuing political crisis in Baghdad.
Since the elections in March 2010, Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki and his
challenger, Iyad Alawi, have failed in efforts to form a government
coalition amid a resurgence of mass-casualty suicide strikes by Al Qaida.
Iraq has also delayed the convening of its new parliament.
The general said Arab-Kurdish tension, particularly around the oil
capital of Kirkuk, remains a significant challenge for Iraq. Mattis urged
that the borders of the autonomous Kurdish region in
northern Iraq be delineated.
Iraq's military and security forces, which number more than 660,000,
were said to have been performing well, Mattis said. But he said neighboring
Iran has foiled efforts by the Baghdad government to defeat Shi'ite militias
backed by Teheran.
"The Iraqi government has worked to manage the challenges presented by
Sunni and Shia militia groups through a combination of security operations
and engagement policies such as integrating the Sons of Iraq, and
reconciliation initiatives with Muqtada Al Sadr's Jaysh Al Mahdi militia,"
Mattis said. "However, some terrorist groups are more difficult for the
Iraqi government to target because of their covert nature and backing by
Iran."
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