Expertise in Action

A French envoy says that pullout timetable for foreign troops would boost the Iraqi political process. (Because the French are experts in both military campaigns and pulling out.)

The French ambassador to Iraq said Monday that a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops would boost the chances of getting all Iraqis involved in talks on a new constitution.

"The presence of a horizon to end the presence of foreign forces would ease the participation of all Iraqis in the political process," Bernard Bajolet told reporters.

He was speaking after meeting the head of Iraq's leading Sunni clerical organisation, which called for a boycott of last month's historic election.

The Committee of Muslim Scholars has said it will only rejoin talks on a new government and constitution if a timetable is set for the withdrawal of US and other foreign troops.

You'll excuse me if I don't pay much attention to the French ambassador to Iraq when it comes to military policy... Or much of anything.