Iraqi Government Faces Increasing Pressure on Benchmarks

RAY SUAREZ:

Yesterday, the Bush administration issued an interim report card on how the Iraqi government was meeting a series of benchmarks for political and military progress in the war. The Iraqi foreign minister responded that his country was being held hostage to timelines set by the United States.

For more on the Iraqi response, we begin with that country's ambassador to Washington, Samir Sumaidaie.

Mr. Ambassador, welcome.

SAMIR SUMAIDAIE, Iraq's Ambassador to the United States: Thank you.

RAY SUAREZ:

The report from the government on the benchmarks finds that your government is meeting only half these goals. What's your response?

SAMIR SUMAIDAIE:

My response is that my government is doing all it can to meet these benchmarks, under fire, under very difficult conditions. The timeline was not set by us; it was set outside the framework of my own government structure. And we have to deal with the realities on the ground.

And there's only so much progress you can make when you are dealing with the situation we have, with interference from our neighbors, with the results of all the errors that were made and compounded the problem in Iraq. We are making progress, but maybe not as fast as it is desired.

RAY SUAREZ:

Well, one thing that people on the Hill, on Capitol Hill, picked up on yesterday and disturbed some of the critics of the administration is that not only is your government only meeting about half of the 18 guidelines, but you've been given an unsatisfactory grade on the most important ones: drafting a new law for the distribution of oil revenues, a new law addressing people who belong to the Baath Party before the fall of Saddam Hussein, the arrangement of provincial elections. These were all given unsatisfactory grades.

SAMIR SUMAIDAIE:

Well, I'd like to ask the same people, how long on average does it take to promulgate a law in this city by a parliament which is fully experienced and is working under tranquil conditions? It takes time, especially on issues which are so existential. These issues will influence not only our lives now, but the lives of the next generations to come.

We have to — we much prefer to take our time and produce good laws than to rush them according to a Washington timetable and produce bad laws.

RAY SUAREZ:

Well, you mentioned that you would much prefer to take your time and produce good laws, but outside of Iraq, outside of Baghdad, do you feel that the situation is changing in a way that lends a sense of urgency to your government's deliberations, the climate here in Washington, for instance?

SAMIR SUMAIDAIE:

Yes, but we are much more sensitive to the climate in Iraq, and we believe it is changing. There's a lot more pressure applied to our leaders by our people than the pressure which is coming from Washington. Our people are demanding solutions; our people are demanding progress.

There is some change on the ground. Take al-Anbar, for example. People have changed their position. They are driving al-Qaida and terrorists out of their towns. There is a lot of change politically that seems to — well, I can't say it goes unnoticed, but not given sufficient weight here. In my opinion, these developments are more crucial and more important than the logistic of progress.

RAY SUAREZ:

Are members of the cabinet watching the deliberations here in Washington with concern that there is a greater chance that American forces may leave Iraq soon?

SAMIR SUMAIDAIE:

Absolutely. We watch the scene very carefully. We understand the debate. We respect the debate. But we try always to persuade our American friends that a hasty retreat would give the wrong signal. It would indicate victory for al-Qaida and for the terrorists. And the consequences would be very damaging to, not only Iraqi interests, but also American interests.

RAY SUAREZ:

Well, two prominent Republican senators, Senators Warner and Lugar, are drafting a bill now that would take American forces in Iraq not out of the country, but take them away from daily combat duties and put them in charge of policing the borders, protecting American assets, and similar duties. Would you still be able to carry on with the work of meeting these goals if Americans redeployed inside the country?

SAMIR SUMAIDAIE:

Well, I have great respect for the senators, and I understand where they are coming from. But in my opinion, this is unrealistic. You cannot separate security issues. You cannot, how shall I say, you cannot cede territory to the terrorists. If you do, then it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to separate who is a terrorist and who is an ordinary citizen, because everybody would come under the influence of terrorists.

RAY SUAREZ:

Ambassador Samir Sumaidaie, thank you very much.

SAMIR SUMAIDAIE:

Thank you.