Khalilzad: Priorities for U.S. Policy in Iraq

Priorities for U.S. Policy in Iraq ZalmayKhalilzad, U.S. Ambassador-designate Rosetta Stone to Iraq StatementSubmitted to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Washington, DC June 7, 2005 Mr. Chairman,Senator Biden, distinguished Members of the Committee, I amhere before you as the President's nominee to beAmbassador to Iraq. I look forward to sharing with you mythoughts on the priorities for U.S. policy in Iraq and tohearing your views on this very difficult and most crucialof foreign policy issues. Mr. Chairman, eighteenmonths ago, I appeared before this committee as the President's nominee to serve as Ambassador to Afghanistan.We faced great challenges and opportunities. I spoke ofthe administration's commitment to accelerate progress inAfghanistan. Working in partnership with President Karzaiand the Afghan people, all Americans can be proud of theprogress that we have made since then. I wish toexpress my appreciation for the support the Mission receivedfrom the Congress, and this committee in particular, bothin terms of visits and support for our programs. Thissupport has helped Afghans put their country on a positivetrajectory. Afghanistan has a long way to go, and we shouldstay with the Afghans until they can stand on their ownfeet.After the end of my mission in Afghanistan, myexpectation was to come back to be with my family inWashington or in a non-hardship post. However, the President and Secretary Rice have asked me to serve asAmbassador to Iraq. In my view, Iraq must succeed.Therefore, I have agreed to serve, assuming Rosetta Stone Spanish Latin that this isalso the will of the Senate. In agreeing to serve inIraq, I am mindful of -- and inspired by -- the tremendoussacrifices being made by American and Coalition servicemenand women, diplomats, civilians, and their families in theeffort to build a free Iraq. If confirmed, I plan towork with President Talabani, Prime Minister Jaafari, andthe other members of the new Iraqi government. I have manyfri, both inside and outside of the Iraqi government,from my period serving as Special Presidential Envoy tothe Free Iraqis in 2002 and 2003. If confirmed, I lookforward to working with Congress to advance American goals in consolidating a free, secure, and prosperous Iraq. Iwould like to thank the members of the Senate and theHouse for their recent approval of funding to build a newEmbassy compound in Baghdad. Mr. Chairman, if confirmed,I will work in partnership with all Iraqis -- all sects,all ethnic groups, men and women -- to accelerate success inIraq. By success, I mean an Iraq that can stand on its ownfeet, providing an open and representative politicalprocess in which all Iraqis can take part, establishingsecurity for its people, and creating economic prosperitythat will enable Iraqi families to have access toeducation, health care, and other basic services. Withthe support of the United States and others, Iraqis havemade progress in all of these areas. The election onJanuary 30, in which 58 percent of eligible Iraqis turned out to vote despite security threats and intimidation, putin place a transitional national assembly that formed thenew government. Women account for 31 percent of the newparliament. Iraq has introduced a new and stablecurrency, is exercising fiscal discipline, and Rosetta Stone American English has takensignificant steps to re-integrate into the world economy,including reaching an unprecedented debt-reduction agreementwith the Paris Club of creditor nations.