NYT: U.S. Shifts Focus in Iraq to Aiding New Government

BAGHDAD, Iraq, May 31 — Senior American commanders here say they are writing new orders to shift the focus of the military's mission from offensive combat operations to protecting a new Iraqi government and parts of the economy while building up Iraq's own security forces.

The decision reflects the commanders' assessment of how best to support the transition to an Iraqi government on June 30. But the shift away from combat operations may be viewed by some Iraqis as a further step back from disarming Iraq's insurgents before the transfer of sovereignty, although American policy remains that the militias are illegal.

The American commanders say there should be no doubt that they will continue to respond forcefully to challenges from insurgents between now and June 30, and then beyond to Iraqi elections scheduled for six months later.

Adnan Pachachi, the former Iraqi foreign minister, emerged Monday as the leading candidate to become the new Iraqi president.

But in recent weeks, after an intense standoff in Falluja, American forces chose to negotiate a deal that allowed Iraqi fighters to melt away, rather than risk inflicting high numbers of civilian casualties and deepening Iraqi alienation.

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/01/international/middleeast/01COMM.html?hp

mouthpiece of Imperialism, the NYTimes, I feel ashamed to be registered at their site.