Washington: Describing the situation in Iraq as a "civil war", former US Secretary of State Colin Powell has warned against setting arbitrary dates for withdrawal of American troops from the war-ravaged country.

Appearing on CNN's Late Edition, Powell cautioned Democratic presidential front-runners Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama not to fall for the easy political solution of setting timetables for withdrawal from Iraq.

"The big issue here, is at what rate can the Iraqis be responsible for assuming their own security? Remember, the purpose of the surge and the continued presence of US troops was to create an environment in which the Iraqis can surge. And that really is the thing we have to measure. How well are they surging?" he said.

Powell said he had no idea on what basis Clinton made the promise that if she became President, she will begin to withdraw troops in sixty days, taking out one to two brigades every month. "... I have no idea on what basis she is making these statements. I don't know what's magic about 60 days and what's magic about one or two brigades a month. The question is, what situation do you want to leave Iraq in?" Powell said. Powell, however, said the Iraqis will have to assume greater responsibility for their own security over the next year or two.

The one time Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was asked to comment on Senator Barack Obama's assertion that all of America's combat troops will be out of Iraq within 16 months of him assuming the Presidency. "... I have found in my many years of service, to set arbitrary dates that don't coincide with the situation on the ground or what actually is happening tends not to be a useful strategy," Powell said.

Source : PTI