"US agrees to international control of its troops in Iraq" [View All]

[weldon_berger]

According to tomorrow's Independent, EU chief Javier Solana says the US "accepts that to avoid humiliating failure in Iraq it needs to bring its forces quickly under international control and speed the handover of power."

The comments, signalling a major policy shift by the US, precede President George Bush's state visit this week to London, during which he and Tony Blair will discuss an exit strategy for forces in Iraq.

Mr Solana underlined the change of mood in Washington, saying: "Everybody has moved, including the United States, because the United States has a real problem and when you have a real problem you need help." There is a "growing consensus" that the transfer of power has to be accelerated, he said. "How fast can it be done? I would say the faster the better."

He added: "The more the international community is incorporated under the international organisations . That is the lesson I think everyone is learning. Our American friends are learning that. We will see in the coming days decisions along these lines."

The article goes on to suggest that NATO may take the lead military role in Iraq if the US is willing to cede sufficient political authority to the UN to satisfy all 19 NATO members.

Can this possibly be true?