US General Sees Significant Withdrawl/Iraq next 12 months(FT)

[katty]

(note: further into article bush calls withdrawl "rumors")

cont'd. at:

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/9f81fef2-14de-11da-9df1-00000e2511c8.html

US general sees significant withdrawal in Iraq
By Peter Spiegel in London
Published: August 24 2005 21:46 | Last updated: August 24 2005 21:46

The US is expected to pull significant numbers of troops out of Iraq in the next 12 months in spite of the continuing violence, according to the general responsible for near-term planning in the country.


Maj Gen Douglas Lute, director of operations at US Central Command, on Wednesday said the reductions were part of a push by Gen John Abizaid, commander of all US troops in the region, to put the burden of defending Iraq on Iraqi forces.

He denied the withdrawal was motivated by political pressure from Washington.

He said: “We believe at some point, in order to break this dependence on the . . . coalition, you simply have to back off and let the Iraqis step forward.

“You have to undercut the perception of occupation in Iraq. It's very difficult to do that when you have 150,000-plus, largely western, foreign troops occupying the country.”

[bemildred]

1. Snarf, babble, drool, lurch, slobber, fart, snarf, babble, drool ....

[democrat_patriot]

2. Just in time for the '06 elections.

Iraq was a success - it's all better now, troops are home - vote Republican....

[LoKnLoD]

3. Sure they are

and the Iraqis will pay for this shit themselves and monkeys will fly out of my butt :sarcasm:

[laureloak]

4. Liar. As long as Bush is in office the war is on. He promised. nt