HARDtalk

The United States is due to withdraw all combat troops from Iraq by the end of August, leaving some 50,000 trainers and advisers. The task of supporting the fledgling democracy and helping the new government deal with the continuing violence will become a civilian rather than a military operation. Christopher Hill is the US Ambassador to Iraq charged with overseeing this process. Stephen Sackur asks him if the State Department is prepared to take on this role and whether - since a government has yet to be formed in Iraq following the parliamentary elections - the departure of US troops is premature.