General: Iraq’s Not on Verge of Civil War

By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer

Sunday March 5, 2006

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060305/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq

Iraq is not on the verge of civil war, the Pentagon’s top general said Sunday, though he acknowledged that “anything can happen” in the beleaguered nation.

Ending the insurgency depends not only on military efforts but also on whether the Iraqi government can give the people what they want, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Peter Pace said. “I do not believe it has deep roots,” Pace said of the insurgency. “I do not believe that they’re on the verge of civil war.” Pace spoke on NBC’s “Meet the Press” as Iraqis continued a stalemate over putting together a new government, a delay that has prevented parliament from meeting since it was elected Dec. 15.

Pressure mounted Sunday on Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to give up his bid for a new term amid anger over the recent surge in sectarian killings that has complicated already snarled negotiations on a new Iraqi government. “Anything can happen, I agree,” Pace said, then added: “I believe the Iraqi people have shown in the last week to 10 days that they do not want civil war.”

Despite increasing worry among Americans that the three-year-old campaign is going badly, Pace said that much progress is being made toward training Iraqi forces to take over security of the country — something officials hope will eventually allow U.S. troops to leave. Asked how things are going, Pace said: “I’d say they’re going well. I wouldn’t put a great big smiley face on it, but I’d say they’re going well.”