Wednesday, 20 February 2008, 00:35 GMT
US envoy warns over Iraq pullout
By Jim Muir
BBC News, Baghdad

The US ambassador in Baghdad has cautioned of the dangers of over-hasty withdrawals of military forces in Iraq.
Ryan Crocker's warning comes as Democratic candidates in the US presidential race talk of setting timetables for pulling out troops.

The ambassador told the BBC a recent improvement in the current security situation was not irreversible.

There is still an al-Qaeda presence, there is still foreign interference particularly from Iran.

"Now all of these things can spark a new cycle of instability and violence if we're not very very careful and closely linked with the Iraqis on what the next step should be."

There is still an al-Qaeda presence, there is still foreign interference particularly from Iran.

"Now all of these things can spark a new cycle of instability and violence if we're not very very careful and closely linked with the Iraqis on what the next step should be."

There is still an al-Qaeda presence, there is still foreign interference particularly from Iran.

Ironically, Iraq could say everything's going great, life is good, thanks America, you're really helping! And the Democrats would say, we still gotta them outta Iraq, they're too happy over there now!