Iraq’s future government will have to give some of its sovereignty back to the U.S.-led forces in the country after the transfer of power on June 30 to allow American troops to provide security, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said yesterday.
Meanwhile, the United States began assuming responsibility for two provinces in south-central Iraq in anticipation of when more than 2,000 troops from Spain, Honduras and the Dominican Republic pull out in the next few weeks.
Britain signaled that it might increase its force in Iraq to compensate for the upcoming withdrawals and help quell a surge of violence against coalition troops and civilians.
Mr. Powell, in an interview with Reuters news agency, said sovereignty will be “limited” for the yet-to-be-decided new government in order for it “to get up and running.”
“It’s sovereignty, but [some] of that sovereignty they are going to allow us to exercise on their behalf and with their permission. It is not as if we are seizing anything away from them,” he said.
“It is with the understanding that they need our help, and for us to provide that help, we have to be able to operate freely, which in some ways infringes on what some would call full sovereignty,” Mr. Powell said.
Poland, which leads the multinational force in Iraq that includes the departing Spanish troops, said yesterday the American military already had began taking over those countries’ sectors.
“This transfer will be gradual. It should have little effect on the overall situation in the zone,” Polish Army Col. Zdzislaw Gnatkowski told Reuters.
Poland is reviewing the status of its 2,500 troops, but has said it has no immediate plans to withdraw from Iraq.
The British government confirmed that it is considering beefing up its force in southern Iraq, although officials refused to cite even preliminary estimates. Media reports suggested that up to 2,000 troops might be added to the 7,500 already in Iraq.
“In light of recent events — the security situation and the anticipated withdrawal of the Spanish troops — we are in discussions with coalition partners,” a Defense Ministry spokeswoman said.
Troop numbers are “one of the things we will be discussing,” she said.
Also yesterday, 52 retired British diplomats issued a harsh critique of Prime Minister Tony Blair’s support for the Bush administration.
“The conduct of the war in Iraq has made it clear that there was no effective plan for the post-Saddam settlement,” the former envoys — who include some of Britain’s most experienced diplomats — said in a letter to Mr. Blair.
“All those with experience of the area predicted that the occupation of Iraq by the coalition forces would meet serious and stubborn resistance, as has been the case,” said the letter, which first was reported by Reuters news agency.
“To describe the resistance as led by terrorists, fanatics and foreigners is neither convincing nor helpful,” it said.
The Bush administration called on allies that are leaving Iraq or do not have forces there to step up their military contributions in Afghanistan.
“There are a number of countries that are not present in Iraq … and they could do more in Afghanistan,” Nicholas Burns, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, told reporters during a visit to Kabul, Afghanistan.
He said NATO members such as France, Germany, Turkey and Spain can help expand the 6,500-member force that the alliance has in Afghanistan. That would make it possible for those troops to operate beyond the capital and the northern city of Kunduz.
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
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