Envoy Seeks to Reassure Wary Iraqis
U.S. Political Shift Won't Alter Goals, Khalilzad Says

By John Ward Anderson
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, November 9, 2006

BAGHDAD, Nov. 8 -- The U.S. ambassador in Baghdad sought to reassure Iraqis on Wednesday that major Democratic gains in Tuesday's elections did not herald an immediate or dramatic change in U.S. policy, saying President Bush "is the architect of U.S. foreign policy" and committed to success here.

In a speech to Iraqi journalists and a few government officials, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad explained that there would be a change in the balance of power in the U.S. Congress but that "Americans understand that Iraq is important" and "have made great sacrifices" for the country and its people.

While continued violence "sometimes causes some, understandably, to wonder whether Iraqis can succeed," he said, "it is clear that Americans want Iraq to succeed" and would continue supporting efforts to bring peace and security to the country. Khalilzad said Bush "is committed to working with both houses of the American Congress to get support needed for the mission in Iraq to succeed."

But many Iraqis expressed concern that a political sea change in Washington could leave them and their country in even worse shape than it is today, while others said they hoped the Democrats would be more forceful in demanding that Iraq's government curb militias and improve security.

"We are concerned that there might be a quick withdrawal from Iraq, which would seriously affect the security situation," said Kashim Mohammed, director of the Fallujah Development Center in the city of Fallujah, a Sunni Arab stronghold 35 miles west of Baghdad. "In reality, the new situation in America is a matter of concern and interest for Iraqis more than it is for Americans themselves."

"I'm optimistic. I think the Democrats will not accept the chaos in Iraq," said Saad Obeidi, 38, a Sunni who owns a fashion shop in the central Baghdad neighborhood of Karrada.

But some Iraqis said they saw little difference between Democrats and Republicans.

"It will be the same policy and the same ideas. Only the faces will change," said Firas Saleh, 33, a Baghdad shop owner.

"Relations with the Americans will not change with a Democratic victory, because in America, there are strategic interests that will never be abandoned by any party, and those are America's security and interests and international affairs," said Esmail al-Hadidi, a tribal leader in the northern city of Kirkuk. "The Americans will never leave Iraq in the hands of the terrorists and the extremists, but we will see a new agenda on the military front -- there will be more diplomatic and political options."

Others said that any defeat for Bush was a victory for them.

"I was so happy when the Democrats won, because I saw Bush's face when he gave a speech after the failure of his party, and he was so angry," said Ban Muhammad 24, a student in Tikrit, the home town of ousted leader Saddam Hussein. "We hope he and his party always lose."

In violence Wednesday, a suicide bomber blew himself up in a cafe in a Shiite Muslim neighborhood in northern Baghdad, killing 16 people and wounding 18. In addition, 14 people were killed and 70 were wounded in a series of mortar attacks and car bombings in the capital.

Outside Baghdad, 27 people were killed and 32 were injured in car bombings, gun battles, roadside explosions and other violence, local security officials and news services reported.

The U.S. military said troops killed 10 fighters from the insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq on Wednesday and freed a kidnapped Iraqi police officer being held by them near Muqdadiyah, about 50 miles northeast of Baghdad. The officer was found after the troops searched the insurgent cell's hideout, a military statement said.

"Once inside the building, Coalition Forces found a hostage blindfolded and shackled to the floor," the statement said. "The hostage revealed he was an Iraqi Policeman that was taken hostage six days before with two other Iraqi Policemen and was being held ransom to raise money for the terrorist cell. He said the two other policemen had been ransomed earlier by the terrorists."

In another operation, four al-Qaeda in Iraq members were killed and 48 were captured when forces raided a known insurgent meeting place on Tuesday near Ramadi, about 60 miles west of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.

No U.S. or Iraqi soldiers were reported killed or injured in either operation.

Separately, a Marine was killed in Anbar province west of Baghdad on Wednesday and a soldier was killed Tuesday in Kirkuk province, the U.S. military reported, bringing to 21 the number of U.S. service members killed in November.

Special correspondents Naseer Mehdawi in Baghdad and Muhanned Saif Aldin in Tikrit and other Washington Post staff in Iraq contributed to this report.