U.S. Defence Secretary travels to Iraq - AP

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U.S. Defence Secretary travels to Iraq
Associated Press

Basra, Iraq — U.S. General George Casey, the top American commander in Iraq, said Friday that some of the extra troops that President George W. Bush ordered to Baghdad could begin leaving by late summer if conditions allow.

“I think it's probably going to be the summer, late summer, before you get to the point where people in Baghdad feel safe in their neighbourhoods,” Gen. Casey told reporters at a news conference with visiting Defence Secretary Robert Gates.

Asked how long the 21,500 extra U.S. troops are likely to be kept in Iraq, Gen. Casey replied, “I believe the projections are, late summer.”

The first group of extra troops — a brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division — has just arrived in Baghdad, and Mr. Gates said it was too early to predict how Bush's plan for quelling the sectarian violence in the capital will work. Four other brigades are to be sent to Iraq between now and May, assuming the Iraqis follow through on their commitment to bring three additional Iraqi army brigades into Baghdad and to allow raids against all illegal militias.

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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070119.wgates0119/BNStory/International/?cid=al_gam_nletter_newsUp

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1. Good luck with that! n/t

[lligrd]

2. Hmm, Sounds Familiar

It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months...