BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP):FORMER UNITED States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger warned yesterday against an early withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces from Iraq, saying such a move would bolster insurgents and terrorists worldwide, causing instability across the Middle East.
He also warned that European Union nations and Washington needed to find another way to get Iran to stop the development of its nuclear programme, which the E.U. and U..S. fear is being used to make nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
Kissinger, in a speech to top NATO officers and officials, said Iran's nuclear programme and terrorism continued to pose a tough challenge for trans-Atlantic ties, and warned also that Iran could use nuclear weapons as a way to protect itself while continuing to promote terrorist groups.
"They (weapons) can become a shield by which to step up terrorist actions," said Kissinger, who was secretary of state and national security adviser under U.S. presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. He retains substantial influence in foreign affairs, and continues to have close links to the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush.
DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES
Saying an early pullout of U.S. forces from Iraq would have disastrous consequences for regional stability, Kissinger made clear yesterday that he supported Bush's Iraq policy.
"To argue that a collapse of the United States in Iraq would not have consequences ... is simply living in a dream world," the former top U.S. diplomat said. "Shockwaves would ripple throughout the Islamic world."
Terrorists and opponents of governments across the Arab world such as in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which support Washington would be encouraged by an early withdrawal, he said.
