U.S. Plans Withdrawal of 12,000 Troops From Iraq by September

[cal04]

Source: Bloomberg

The U.S. and U.K. will withdraw 16,000 troops from Iraq by September as the country’s security situation improves, the U.S. Military said.

The U.S. will withdraw 12,000 soldiers, cutting back to 12 combat brigades from 14, while 4,000 British personnel will leave, said General Ray Odierno, commander of multi-national forces in Iraq, in an e-mailed statement. The U.S. is turning over more facilities to Iraq as part of the plan.

“The time and conditions are right for coalition forces to reduce the number of troops in Iraq,” said Odierno in the statement. “The successful provincial elections demonstrated the increased capability of the Iraqi army and police to provide security.”

President Barack Obama said last month the U.S. will withdraw combat forces over the next 18 months and remove all troops by the end of 2011. There are about 140,000 U.S. troops now in Iraq.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aCN2Y2K9_dCs&refer=uk

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US to cut Iraq troop force by 12,000
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L8671235.htm

[acmavm]

1. Nice. 12,000 down, 128,000 to go.

[Mithreal]

2. Not good enough. nt

[ReliantJ]

3. Moving west

[Regret My New Name]

4. You mean east?

[ReliantJ]

5. Correct

my fault.