U.S.: Policy to Unite Iraq Is Working ("deserve support")

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/23/AR2005092301051.html

U.S.: Policy to Unite Iraq Is Working

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration, fencing with Saudi Arabia on Iraq, says U.S. policy is working to bring the Iraqi people together politically for the benefit of a united country.

"What they deserve is our support," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Friday while urging Arab countries to give Iraq the diplomatic and political backing it seeks.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, told The Associated Press on Thursday that the Bush administration did not heed some Saudi warnings on occupying Iraq and that he didn't believe a new constitution and elections would solve Iraq's problems.

"Perhaps what they are saying is going to happen," Saud said. "I wish it would happen, but I don't think that a constitution by itself will resolve the issues, or an election by itself will solve the difficult problems."

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1. more: U.S. rejects Saudi view Iraq near disintegration

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N23652957.htm

U.S. rejects Saudi view Iraq near disintegration


WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The United States on Friday strongly rejected Saudi fears Iraq is heading toward disintegration and urged Baghdad's neighbors to be more supportive of Iraq's government.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said Iraq was heading toward disintegration and he feared other countries in the region would be drawn into the conflict.

Asked to comment on the minister's remarks, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told a regular briefing, "All I would say is that we see a situation in Iraq in which the Iraqi people at every opportunity have chosen to pull together in the political process."

Saud met U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at her office in the U.S. capital on Thursday, and McCormack said Washington was trying to persuade Baghdad's neighbors to be supportive of Iraq.