U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday he sees "some chance of a modest acceleration" in the pace of U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq.Gates, returning from a trip to Iraq, told reporters aboard his plane that perhaps one combat brigade would come out of Iraq ahead of schedule. He did not give a precise timetable.
I heard this from my son in Baghdad yesterday. Slightly ahead of schedule meaning about a month in his case. Fingers crossed that it manifests, and still watching what happens in Kurdistan.
Gates said Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. general in Iraq, told him the security situation is better than expected.President Barack Obama has announced plans to withdraw American combat forces from Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010. The bulk of the current 138,000 U.S. troops are expected to remain until Iraq's national elections, scheduled for late this year. Maintaining security for the balloting is considered a top priority by Odierno and other high-ranking Pentagon officials.
After the August 2010 deadline for withdrawal of combat forces, 30,000 to 50,000 U.S. troops will remain in advisory and training roles until the end of 2011.
That seems like a lot of troops for advice and training.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
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