Radio France: What is the significance of the announced troop withdrawal from Iraq?
Grant F. Smith: We’ll have to see. Moving from the current number to 50,000 seems like an improvement, but who’s going to remain in all those super bases that have been constructed in Iraq? Will large numbers of combat forces be re-categorized as “advisors?” Will later negotiations turn them into a permanent force like US troops in South Korea? We really need to wait and see what happens on the ground.
Radio France: But isn’t the Status of Forces Agreement stipulation that US forces stop engaging in combat a positive step?
Grant F. Smith: What if major violence breaks out in an area like Mosul? It’s pretty hard to see US forces remaining on the sidelines if something like that happens. Also, we’ve seen recent reports of US troops in combat with Iraqi police and military forces. The situation on the ground isn’t as clear as the SOFA.
Radio France: What about the Obama administration goal to extend a hand to the region, particularly to Syria and Iran?
Grant F. Smith: Again, it is too early to tell if the rhetoric will catch up to reality. Some Obama administration figures continue to insist that Iran completely halt its civilian nuclear energy program. That’s not much different than the Bush administration. Also, if you look at Obama appointees streaming into the State Department and Cabinet, what you see is that although they hail from the Democratic side of the aisle, their writings, rhetoric, and world views are not significantly different than the Bush Administration. So, as before, we have to see some accomplishment on the ground before we believe all of the soaring rhetoric. (MP3/Foreign Language)
