Zalmay Khalilzad Quotes (60 Quotes)

We hope that this will be a government based on national unity, formed without regard to sectarianism, committed to peace and with capable ministers who place loyalty to Iraq above that of loyalty to faction.

Everyone believes that the prospect for a civil war has diminished significantly over the past several days. All the mainstream leaders of Iraq believe that civil war must be avoided. It's very positive that they are all saying it.

Success in Iraq will be a major setback for terrorists and a major asset for the security of this region. The struggle for Iraq is the struggle for the future of the world.

right for Iraq at the present time.

Our patience is running out, the patience of Iraqis are running out. The time for decision ... has arrived for Damascus,

I believe that a final, final draft has not yet been, or the edits have not been, presented yet so that is something that Iraqis will have to talk to each other and decide for themselves,

We are investing a great deal of resources in the police and army. Those forces will not be regarded as credible forces if run by a minister who is sectarian or has ties to militias. It undermines the efforts to build these forces.

We are not going to abandon Iraq.

This is a critical moment for Iraq. We call on all Iraqis to unite against terror and violence. Coming together in unity to condemn this barbaric act, and working for Iraq's salvation will be the right response. This desperate and despicable act shows that terrorists stop at nothing and care for nothing.

Iran has another policy as well to work with militias, provide training and provide weapons to extremist groups, direct and indirectly.

Everything that needs to be done must be done to avoid a civil war, and I think they are keenly aware of the danger.

The security ministries have to be run by people who are not associated with militias and who are not regarded as sectarian. The issue is how forces that we're investing a huge amount of money in are perceived by the Iraqis. If they are perceived as sectarian, their effectiveness will not be there. We have insisted on this, stated it clearly. These two ministries need people who are acceptable to all parties of a national unity government. ... We are saying If you choose the wrong candidates, that will affect U.S. aid.

It is causing difficulties for my family and myself. I have been doing this thing for a long time. It has been hugely costly at the personal level.

Since no single party will have a majority there will be a need for a very broad-based coalition.

I think the country came to the brink of civil war. (They) decided to come together and now the risk of civil war from this attack on the golden mosque is over.

Now several groups of them support the constitution, are voting for it,

The country is bleeding. Iraqis want their leaders to rise to the occasion, to form a government of national unity.

When there have been differences between the various forces with regard to a particular issue, and they've asked for my help, I have proposed to them options for bridging the differences between them. Failure is not an option, and if they need my help, I have told them I'm available at any time.

It is critical that the newly elected leaders of Iraq do their part by forming a government of national unity with a good program and competent ministers as soon as possible.

He can stand beside me and give his opinion, and he is not intimidated.

I believe that if we get -- when we get -- the national unity government, when we have ministries that are run by competent ministers, and as we get into the next phase of our Sunni outreach ... I see a set of circumstances, frankly, that would allow for a significant withdrawal of our forces.

Weapons and people coming across the border to undermine Iraq must be stopped, and we're working with the Iraqis, including the prime minister (Ibrahim Jaafari), to make this message clear to the Iranians,

Iraq's political parties and their leaders must come together to reinforce their commitment to democratic principles and national unity.

It is a moment of danger but also a moment of opportunity.

The U.S. and Iraq will work together next year to shift Iraqi resources from unproductive subsidies to productive uses that enable Iraqis to earn livelihoods.

The draft constitution has moved in the right direction and is moving toward becoming the national compact Iraq needs.

The militias are an issue that the next government will have to deal with. Iraq needs a strong national army, a strong national police. It needs weapons in the hands of those who are authorized to have them.

This not only opens the door for insurgents to permanently renounce violence and join the political process in order to stabilize Iraq, it also isolates the terrorists who are the enemy of all Iraqis, while setting the stage for the emergence of a strong

We don't want war with Iraq. We want Saddam to comply with U.N. resolutions and we want freedom and liberty for the Iraqi people,

I do believe it's possible that we could adjust our forces, downsizing them in the course of next year. That's possible given the positive political developments and continuing growth in the capabilities of the Iraqi forces,

Iraq will succeed. It will take longer if the neighbors play an unhelpful role, ... It can happen at a faster pace if the neighbors play a positive role.

I think we would assume since these discussions are with regard to our concern with Iranian policies in Iraq that it (the talks) should be in Baghdad.

I believe that they're on the wrong side of history that the people of Iraq are moving away from them, including the Sunni community. They will ultimately be defeated. The question is not whether, but when.

Today marks another momentous step in the building of a new Iraq, ... will help pave the path to a democratic and independent Iraq, based on the rule of law.

Things are getting better. The Iraqis came to the brink of civil war as a result of the attack on the shrine ... The Iraqi leadership came together and rose to the occasion and that's a good thing.

and that our efforts and the effort of many women here in Iraq and the international community will ultimately pay off on this score.

I've been authorized by the president to engage the Iranians as I engaged them in Afghanistan directly, ... There will be meetings, and that's also a departure and an adjustment.

They are making great progress. They have reached agreement on almost all of the key issues. There is one or two issues left. They are working very hard. They tell me they are optimistic, but we will have to wait and see until tomorrow.

will depend not only on our military strategy, but also on the political progress.

What we've seen in the past two days, the attack has had a major impact here, getting everyone's attention that Iraq is in danger.

We want him to form as quickly as possible a good, strong cabinet.

Iran is a very complicated player, an influential player seeking regional pre- eminence. Iraq is very important to it, and it is using a variety of means that, to you and I, would look very contradictory but to them it looks as part of a comprehensive strategy.

At this point, the determination is to meet the Aug. 15 deadline.

In order for Iraq to succeed, there has to be cross-ethnic and cross-sectarian cooperation.

The neighbors can make it harder. It can take longer. But success is inevitable. This country has the resources to become a very rich and powerful country. It behooves the neighbors of Iraq to help.

This decision, the formation of a government of national unity is extremely important. If they (Iraqi leaders) make the right decision forming a national unity government -- competent ministers, good process with a good program governing from the center -- it will put Iraq on the right trajectory it will be a major step forward for Iraq.

The draft constitution of Iraq is the most progressive document of the Muslim world.

The draft constitution is one of the most progressive governing documents in the Muslim world, ... in terms of its protection of rights of religious freedom and conscience.

The national unity government will need to implement a program that brings all Iraqis together, builds a happy future for the people of Iraq, and gets Iraq to stand on its own feet.

I assured them that the United States believes strongly that the Iraqi constitution should provide equal rights before the law for all Iraqis regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion or sect, ... There can be no compromise.