Zalmay Khalilzad
Zalmay Khalilzad
Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzadis a U.S. counselor at the Center for Strategic and International Studiesand president of Khalilzad Associates, an international business consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. He was the United States Ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush. He has been involved with U.S. policy makers at the White House, State Department and Pentagon since the mid-1980s, and was the highest-ranking Muslim American in the Administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. Khalilzad's previous assignments in...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth22 March 1951
CountryUnited States of America
I think American impatience has to do with the notion that we don't know what we're doing. If we could project that we are moving in the right direction, Americans are ready to be very patient.
It is a moment of danger but also a moment of opportunity.
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.
will depend not only on our military strategy, but also on the political progress.
We have opened the Pandora's box and the question is, what is the way forward? If another incident (occurs), Iraq is really vulnerable.
That will bring down the total level from 17 brigades to 15.
We will help them if our help is needed. They will have to decide if they need help or not.
We are doing all that we can to help bring about a release and will persist with that.
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.
The reaction that's needed by the Iraqis -- they need to come together.
We're going to press very hard for this.
Everything that needs to be done must be done to avoid a civil war, and I think they are keenly aware of the danger.
At this point the determination is to meet the August 15 deadline.
Since no single party will have a majority there will be a need for a very broad-based coalition.