Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Wendy Wang
The Pentagon was reluctant to comment on Iraqi President Jalal Talibani's statement that Iraqi security forces are expected to take over from Coalition forces by the end of this year. While, spokesman Bryan Whitman did not offer any particular insight, at an afternoon press briefing with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, says troops withdrawal will be conditions based. However he offered a bit of a mixed picture in terms of the situation in Iraq. On the one hand, admitting that the sectarian violence shows no sign of ebbing, the daily lives of Iraqi's continue, with schools and hospitals open and operational.

Rumsfeld was asked when the sectarian violence would constitute civil war, to which the Secretary asked the press to judge for themselves. Then he said that while the high level of violence is "troublesome" it did not fit into the "classic" definition of civil war, as this country knew civil war. He outlined the measures of reconciliation taken by the Iraqi government and various religious leaders.

Both men were asked if there is evidence of continued Iranian support of Hezbollah in its conflict with Israel. Pace, carefully choosing his words, agree that history would lead one to such a conclusion, but would not give too specific of an answer given intelligence sensitivities. He admits that Iran and Hezbollah continues to have a lose relationship. Rumsfeld interjected that Hezbollah missiles used currently are from Iran, and Iran is their primary financial and military supplier.