Iraqis united on post-vote concerns

The Washington Times: "Iraq's feuding Shi'ite and Sunni politicians both expressed hopes yesterday that Republican political setbacks and the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld would not trigger an abrupt U.S. military withdrawal from the country.

Although Mr. Rumsfeld's departure inspired few tears in the region, political leaders in Iraq and across the Middle East were worried how the midterm vote would affect U.S. commitments and policy in the region.

The embattled government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said it took heart from President Bush's statements that major Democratic gains in Tuesday's midterm elections will not lead U.S.
forces to abandon the mission in Iraq.

And Qais Abu Ahmed, a member of the Sunni Arab minority, said that despite widespread Iraqi frustration with the foreign military presence, 'any withdrawal of the American army would be a big disaster.'

'There would be at the very least a civil war, if not a major massacre, the next day,' he said."