By NNN-KUNA
Manama : US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Saturday the security situation Iraq and Iran’s refusal to abide by international obligations have direct impacts on security conditions in the Gulf region.
Addressing the Manama security Dialogue, Gates said the security of the Gulf region has always been a center-stage issue during his service in the US administration before being named as secretary of defense.
He said the US has been exerting efforts to bolster partnerships with the Arab Gulf countries to boost security and stability of the region.
Gates reminded attendees that during last year’s dialogue in Manama, the security situation and sectarian violence were bad in Iraq, and there were doubts if the US could deliver.
But the US is determined and committed to defending its vital interests and interests of its allies in Iraq and the Middle East region, said Gates.
He said violence in Iraq was declining and life has started to return to normal. He cited that attacks against the US forces in Iraq dropped by 60 percent nationwide and 70 percent in Baghdad alone.
Gates attributed the decline in violence in Iraq to changing military tactics which focused on the protection of the Iraqi people from militias and foreign terrorists, in addition to growing professionalism of the Iraqi forces.
Gates mentioned some positive developments in Iraq, citing declining of debts, controlling inflation and encouraging foreign investments.
He, however, said the progress was genuine but fragiel. So Iraq needs national conciliation to bring about political and security stability, he added.
Failure in Iraq will spell out in all capitals and communities in the Middle East before reaching the US, he said, and the victims would be innocent men, women and children.
He called on countries participating in the conference to help the Iraqis reach the objectives they have planned for.