Former US President Bill Clinton expressed hope Tuesday that more foreign forces could join US-led forces in Iraq, expecting it would help reduce the US presence in the occupied country and restore order there.
"The more countries like Japan send their soldiers in, the more likely it is for people to not resent those who are there," Clinton told reporters after a meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Tokyo.
"It doesn't look like an American occupation. It is clear we have no imperialist objectives," Clinton said, adding that "We need to turn more authorities over to the Iraqis themselves and we need more and more security reconstruction clearly in the hands of the international community".
Clinton showed understanding over the Japanese public's fear that Self-Defense Forces (SDF) troops would expose themselves to dangers because of the deteriorating security situation in Iraq.
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
