WASHINGTON — The Obama administration could be overstating what U.S. diplomats can do to contain Iraq’s ethnic and sectarian tensions without U.S. military forces, a State Department audit concluded Tuesday, raising concerns about the planned pullout of U.S. troops next year.
The auditors also questioned whether American diplomats who remain behind will be adequately protected against insurgent violence, and their report faulted Washington for its planning of the transition from a military-led mission in Iraq to one run by U.S. civilians.
The audit’s findings echo worries expressed by some U.S. defense analysts and former diplomats. They say hard-won security gains in Iraq could crumble if U.S. forces leave on schedule.
The report said the start of 2012 is likely to be “especially dangerous” as extremists test U.S. resolve and Iraqi forces. It questioned whether the U.S. can meet President Barack Obama’s goal of ensuring a safe work environment for U.S. personnel in 2012. The Associated Press
