02-21-2008, 12:41 AM
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Guru
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,093
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General Pestraeus comments on coming report to Congress
Quote:
February 21, 2008
General David Petraeus reveals plans to scale back Iraq troops
General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq, is drawing up plans to pull more troops out of the country after July on the back of a sharp drop in attacks and long-awaited progress on the political front.
The suggestions, which will depend upon conditions on the ground, are due to be presented as part of a new report on Iraq to George Bush, the US President, towards the end of next month, which will be put before Congress by early April.
“We have been tasked to provide input to the Central Command, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the [Defence] Secretary and the President on the way ahead, obviously on recommendations with respect to further draw-downs beyond those that will be complete by July,” General Petraeus told The Times.
He was referring to a withdrawal of more than 20,000 troops (over one quarter of America’s combat forces in Iraq) that was announced following a previous report to Washington last September. They were deployed as part of a military surge to tackle escalating sectarian killings and other attacks in and around Baghdad.
Asked whether troop levels by the end of 2008 would be less than the force of some 130,000 that will be left following the current reduction, General Petraeus said: “Yes”, emphasising, however, that security conditions at the time would dictate the size and rate of the pullout to prevent gains from being compromised.
“We have a range, but that is not something I would be prepared to share with you at this point in time. We have a range based on various situations.”
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle3406008.ece
"Stay the Course" 
Bold- why the democrats will lose. 
Last edited by SenaxFlatulus; 02-21-2008 at 08:28 AM.
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