| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| U.S. Soldiers Will Remain in Green Zone Next 90 Days |
| 2009-01-02 |
| The United States on Thursday handed the Iraqi government formal control of the Green Zone, the locus of power in the country and symbol of American influence for the past five years, but officials announced that U.S soldiers would continue to help maintain security in the area for at least the next 90 days. "The Americans will supervise us," said Brig. Gen. Emad al-Zuhairi, commander of the Baghdad Brigade, the Iraqi military unit in charge of the Green Zone. "We hope this is just the first step." U.S. troops, who once controlled all the external checkpoints leading into the Green Zone, will stay and work alongside Iraqi troops who are now supposed to be in charge of security, officials from both countries said. They acknowledged that it remains unclear precisely how the relationship will work. Col. Steve Ferrari, commander of the Joint Area Support Group, which is in charge of the six-square-mile Green Zone, said American troops would be training Iraqis at the checkpoints and providing support. "We are not losing our jobs -- they are just changing," Ferrari said, adding that the entire relationship would be reevaluated at the end of three months to decide what the Iraqis want them to do. "If they tell us to go, we will go. If they tell us to stay, we will stay." |
| Posted by:Fred |