Bishop says troops should be withdrawn when peace comes

Rome, Italy, Jan 22, 2009 / 18:12 pm

Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop of Baghdad, Shlemon Warduni, said this week, “Words are nice, but it is now time for action. Leaving Iraq ‘responsibly’ is possible but only by leaving it in peace and security,” he said in reference to statements by President Barack Obama during his inaugural address.

According to the Italian news agency SIR, Bishop Warduni also said that Iraq “should be left in the hands of the Iraqis and not foreigners.  We hope that all foreign forces will leave Iraq … but only after a true peace, true stability, is achieved.  There should not be any external pressure or interference.  Iraq should be given to the Iraqis,” he said.

Bishop Warduni has been in Rome for several days awaiting his “ad limina” visit with the Pope, which will begin on January 23.  “The Pope prays for us and we ask him to do whatever is possible to liberate Iraq from the disaster it is in and thus support reconciliation, the return of security and stability.”