The general in charge of US military operations in Iraq appealed to Pakistan, Morocco and Tunisia on Friday to send troops to join American-led forces in Iraq, saying "this needs to be less of an American occupation."
General John Abizaid, who as head of US Central Command is responsible for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, also said the United States has boosted its troop levels in Afghanistan to 20,300 - roughly doubling the total there at the beginning of the year.
Abizaid, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon from Qatar, said the withdrawal of about 1,400 Spanish troops from US-led occupation forces in Iraq, along with the loss of soldiers from the Dominican Republic and Honduras, compelled him to use US troops to take their place amid rising violence.
"I do favour the inclusion of more international troops, especially more Muslim troops," Abizaid said.
"For example, Morocco, Pakistan, Tunisia - they all have very capable and very professional forces that could be added to the stability equation once we move into this new level of political future that develops after negotiations in the UN or wherever they may take place," Abizaid said.
"I believe, and I think Iraqis will second me on this, this needs to be less of an American occupation and more of an international military activity that includes Iraqis, international forces and Americans," Abizaid said.
US officials since last year have expressed the desire to bring in troops from Muslim countries to Iraq, saying they may grasp the cultural sensitivities that elude non-Muslims. But there has been strong opposition to US operations in Iraq from many in the Muslim world.
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