Washington does not plan a military administration for Iraq after the overthrow of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, only short-term security control, US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice said in an interview published Sunday.
"We believe that when Iraq has been liberated from this terrible regime, the Iraqi people will be perfectly capable of running their own affairs," Rice was quoted as saying by Al-Ahram.
"But there will be a certain moment, particularly while military operations are still under way, during which we will need to restore order and US military forces will play a central role in that," Rice added.
"The United States and its allies will have to maintain security for a certain period of time to ensure that there are no acts of violence, that the unity of the country is maintained and that humanitarian aid is reaching the Iraqi people."
Rice ruled out the installation of a US military government and emphasized that Washington would "work for the establishment of an Iraqi civilian administration with government ministries resuming control as quickly as possible".
"We expect to turn to a group (of Iraqis) who will come from the United States to help run the ministries and let them resume their functions," she expressed.
Moreover, Rice stressed that the US administration did not regard Afghanistan as a model for Iraq as in Kabul there had been "no real administration".
In Iraq, Washington would "seek to build on what already exists, particularly organizations unconnected with the regime ... with the aim of restoring law and order, and providing essential supplies as quickly as possible, as well as preventing the eruption of communal violence".
"On the political front, we need to take into account the fact that Saddam has ruled Iraq for 30 years and give a little time for political leaders to emerge," Rice acknowledged, although she added that she believed it could happen "rapidly". (Albawaba.com)
