Iraq speech at UN lasting blot: Powell

Powell also implied in the interview that the US did not go to war in Iraq with enough troops to secure the country, and had failed to keep sufficient Iraqi forces to help stabilise the aftermath. ‘‘What we didn’t do in the immediate aftermath of the war was to impose our will on the whole country with enough troops of our own, with enough troops from coalition forces or by re-creating the Iraqi forces,’’ he said.

But with Iraq still violent, the US has ‘‘little choice but to keep investing in the Iraqi armed forces’’.

Powell has acknowledged several times before that intelligence failures lay behind his presentation on the eve of the Iraq war two years ago. Asked if he had been for the decision to go to war, he answered in the affirmative. ‘‘I’m glad Saddam is gone,’’ he said.

Powell said he did not believe George Tenet, then director of central intelligence, had tried to mislead him. But, he said, ‘‘There were people in the intelligence community who knew at that time that some of these sources were not good, and they didn’t speak up. That devastated me.” —NYT

Amended Iraq constitution to get final approval

BAGHDAD: Iraqi lawmakers confirmed on Friday that a final amendment had been made to the draft constitution, which would be formally approved and sent to UN officials for printing. ‘‘The problem was the identity of Iraq—it is solved by adding a sentence saying that Iraq is an active member in the Arab League,’’ said Abbas al-Bayati a Shi’ite member of the drafting committee. REUTERS