DAR AL HARB - U.S.A. - WASHINGTON D.C.: THE UNITED STATES TO WITHDRAW FROM THE MIDDLE EAST BY 2009

U.S. signaling Gulf states it will withdraw from region by 2009

ABU DHABI — The Bush administration has hinted through diplomatic channels that the United States will leave Iraq and most of the Gulf region by 2009.

Middle East diplomatic sources said U.S. envoys have repeatedly signaled that Washington plans to withdraw from Iraq and most of the Gulf region. Several U.S. envoys advised Gulf Cooperation Council and other states to prepare for this eventuality, they said.

"No such words were spoken, but Arab and Israeli leaders have understood that within two years, the United States will no longer be in Iraq or in the Middle East," one diplomatic source said.

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"The message was that if by August, the [Iraqi President Nouri] Al Maliki government fails to take over security, then the war will be considered unwinnable," a GCC source said. "The conclusion by Arabs and Israelis was that this was the U.S. deadline."

The sources said the planned U.S. withdrawal marked the basis for the administration's proposal to supply Saudi Arabia with up to $10 billion in advanced military platforms and weapons. Congress has objected to the sale because of Saudi instability as well as Riyad's insistence that it will not accept U.S. restrictions on the use of the systems.

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"The underlying message by Gates to the Israelis was different from that to the Arabs," said an American who monitored the talks. "The Israelis understood from Gates that Israel was on its own and therefore must be very careful in how it responds to threats, including the Iranian threat. The feeling was that if there was another war, Israel should not expect another U.S. airlift."


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1) U.S. signaling Gulf states it will withdraw from region by 2009