New think tank details US withdrawal from IraqWed Jun 20, 2007 11:12PM EDT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new think tank run by former U.S.
defense officials has published a detailed plan that would have
the United States withdraw from Iraq in phases, beginning next
month and ending in 2012.
The report made available on Wednesday by the Center for a
New American Security headed by former Pentagon officials Kurt
Campbell and Michele Flournoy also sets what it calls "more
realistic" objectives for America in Iraq.
These aims include preventing the establishment of al Qaeda
safe havens, a regional war and genocide instead of President
George W. Bush's goal of creating a democracy.
-snip-A key aspect of the plan, which has four phases, would be to set
timelines for accomplishing political and security goals and for the
ultimate withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2012 "at the latest."
The report said it builds on the bipartisan Iraq Study Group
headed by former Secretary of State James Baker and former
Rep. Lee Hamilton but goes beyond that study by recommending
the timelines for U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq and a detailed
plan on how to carry that out.
-snip-