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Gates quickly overrode his Iraq commander, indicating in comments to reporters that drawdowns would continue at the same rate. His aim: to get below 100,000 troops by the end of 2008, just before the next administration takes over.
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Woot! Dr.Gates might just be able to do this.
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US may cut troop levels in Iraq this fall
AP - The Pentagon's top military officer says he expects to be able to recommend further troop reductions in Iraq this fall. Admiral Mike Mullen says that on his recent trip to Iraq, he found conditions had improved more than he expected. The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff says he's not ready to say that the improvement is irreversible, though.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080716/..._st_pe/us_iraq
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Iraq eyes full security control by year-end
By Dean Yates 13 minutes ago BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq hopes to have security control of all its provinces by the year-end, the national security adviser said on Wednesday, underscoring the government's growing confidence in its own forces.
National security adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie was speaking at a ceremony where U.S.-led troops handed security responsibility for southern Shi'ite Qadisiya province to Iraqi forces. The handover puts Baghdad in control of security in 10 of the country's 18 provinces, all mainly Shi'ite or Kurdish areas.
"We aspire to reach to the 18th province before the end of this year. God willing, all provinces will be under the control of the Iraqi security authorities before the end of this year," Rubaie said in a speech broadcast on state-controlled Iraqiya television from the Qadisiya capital of Diwaniya.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080716/ts_nm/iraq_dc
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Mission Accomplished.
free iraqis!