Posted on 01/30/2005 12:21:46 PM PST by F14 Pilot
LONDON (Reuters) - U.S.-led forces could leave Iraq within 18 months, Iraqi interim Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib told Britain's Channel 4 News Sunday after Iraq's election.
"I think we will not need the multi-national, foreign forces, in this country within 18 months," he said. "I think we will be able to depend on ourselves."
Election officials said turnout had been higher than expected in Sunday's elections despite attacks by insurgents bent on destroying the poll.
At least 35 people died in assaults across the country.
President Bush (news - web sites), under pressure to start bringing troops home after the election, has said U.S.-led forces must keep going to help the new government get its footing.
But al-Naqib said Iraqi security forces would need only 18 months.
"We are building our forces and I think we will need 18 months -- it's my estimate -- that we will have a quite reasonable sized force, trained, well trained force, well equipped to protect the country.
"So I believe very much that we won't need more than 18 months."
Fine with me....just leave a base.
What pressure? Nobody said we're bringing them home right after the elections. The elections are a major step in stabilizing Iraq enough so we can withdraw, it isn't the end game. 18 months sounds reasonable, but there is no hard timeline, and can't be one because... duh... when you're engaged in a fight, the mission isn't over until the mission is over.
Pressure = Kennedy, Kerry, and the MSM. In other words, worthless no-goodniks are ginning up "pressure."
I agree. There is nothing our troops would like better than to stop leaving their families to go to Iraq. Personally, I believe that 18 months is a target to START pulling our troops out of Iraq and that 30 to 36 months to completely turn over security to Iraq.
However, they must rebuild their army and air force enough to be able to repel a foreign army the likes of Iraq or Syria.
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