Iraqi Official Expects U.S. to Pull 30,000 Troops in Next Year

[sabra]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aya8Tp0nmfMg&refer=us

Iraqi Official Expects U.S. to Pull 30,000 Troops in Next Year

Nov. 27 (Bloomberg) -- An Iraqi government official said he expects the U.S. will probably withdraw about 30,000 troops early next year, and American forces may number less than 100,000 by 2007.

Iraqi National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie said that while the Iraqi interim government and the U.S.-led coalition have been discussing the circumstances that will allow foreign troops to leave the country they are ``not interested in a timetable'' for withdrawals.

``We want to create the right conditions in the urban areas for the Iraqi security forces to assume the responsibility of security in these cities and towns,'' al-Rubaie said today on CNN's ``Late Edition'' program. ``That's what we are doing.''

Al-Rubaie's remarks come a week after representatives of Iraq's three main factions, meeting in Cairo, demanded a schedule for the withdrawal of coalition troops from Iraq. President George W. Bush yesterday repeated his rejection of a timetable for redeploying U.S. forces.

Didn't they add ~30k for the December elections? So withdrawing would just bring them back to the original number?

[daleo]

1. I don't trust them

This will all be for show. I think the number of military casualties on icasualties.org will be the thing to watch - much tougher to fake or mislead.

[NMDemDist2]

2. i thought we were at approx 168K now minus 30K = 138K

wow, big whoop! :sarcasm:

[sabra]

3. exactly!

[Inland]

6. Almost where we were a year ago.

Remember, we built up for the consitution ratification and now the election.

[wakeme2008]

4. This is going to get interesting

Italy is pulling out..

South Korea is pulling out..

Japan is maybe pulling out....

Lot of troops from those countries...

It's will be :popcorn: time in 2006..

[bluestateguy]

5. I'll be on pins and needles

Maybe there will be a parade too, which could be conveniently held in October (October is one month before November, and we know what that means), in a state with a competitive senate race.