IRAQ:The top US diplomat in Iraq waded into the election debate over troop withdrawals yesterday, warning security improvements could be jeopardised by setting a timetable for a pull-out.
"Over the last year, we and the Iraqis have achieved a great deal here and we have both paid a high price for it," said Ryan Crocker.
"Certainly my view, sitting here in Baghdad, is that it would be extremely risky to gamble on those gains by moving away from a conditions-based redeployment."
His remarks are an implicit criticism of promises by the two Democratic front runners. Barack Obama, a consistent opponent of the war in Iraq, has said that he would pull out all combat troops by the end of 2009, while Hillary Clinton says she would establish a plan for withdrawal within 60 days of taking office.
Mr Crocker said any decision on reductions beyond those already announced ought to be "very carefully evaluated by us and by the Iraqis".
"The troops are already going home. By July 2008 the surge elements will be out of Iraq," he said.
Beyond that, "it is very important to keep in mind the principle that has motivated us here, which is withdrawal or redeployments based on conditions".
Mr Crocker added: "There are, of course, other ways to do this. Simply forget about conditions and set up a timetable and march to that timetable. But I think anyone contemplating that course of action should contemplate very seriously what the consequences would be," he said.
US defence secretary Robert Gates and commander Gen David Petraeus indicated last week they favoured a pause in troop reductions after the summer, to assess whether there had been any deterioration in security and stability after the withdrawal of the surge troops.