US commander in Iraq says troop drawdown on track

[demoleft]

Source: ap

FORWARD OPERATING BASE COBRA, Iraq – The top U.S. general in Iraq says the country's delay in holding elections will not keep American combat forces from leaving as scheduled by the end of August.

Gen. Ray Odierno said Saturday in an interview with The Associated Press that he expects the U.S. to have about 100,000 troops in the country during the March 7 elections.

About 60 days after the vote, he will assess whether the country is on stable footing and then begin moving troops out.

Iraq was originally scheduled to hold elections in January but political wrangling over the election law delayed the nationwide vote until March.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100102/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq

[peacebird]

1. of course they are on schedule - they are slated for Afghanistan, then maybe Yemen, Pak, or Iran...

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

6. Afghanistan? Yes, but then again

that's exactly what Obama promised during his campaign.

Yemen, Pakistan, and Iran? No.

[tabasco]

2. Never should have been in Iraq in the first place.

We had no just cause to invade Iraq, like we did in Afghanistan.

[peace13]

3. Wonder why my step sisters son is slated to go to Iraq in February?

Funny how that works! Got his friend pregnant, dropped out of school and enlisted in the Air Force. I don't think that it has been a year yet and he is headed to Iraq. Sad thing is that his mom was in Iraq when the news of the new grand baby hit. Hell of a note in a war zone. Note to those left behind by our soldiers....try to hold it together until your loved one returns.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Big announcement in our local county papert our National Guard is going to Irag

for a year! Lists the names of the deployed, they are leaving soon for "12 month tour" of Iraq.

[boppers]

10. Non-combat service role?

Combat troops are coming out first... and there's a heck of a lot of other kinds of troops.

[L0oniX]

5. "end of August" ...hmmm What happened to the 18 months? ...which woud be June

I'm calling bull shit on this one.

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

7. With all due respect, where did you get 18 mos. from?

[pjt7]

8. We can't afford to Nation Build

in the ME.

[TomCADem]

9. Cue The GOP Whining About Timetables!

[Mari333]

11. just re arranging the deck chairs on the TITANIC

thats all.
BRING THEM ALL HOME NOW