Posted on 05/01/2005 5:08:35 PM PDT by jmc1969
The American military has set a target of December for handing over responsibility for security to Iraqi army and police units, says a classified document being circulated among senior officers.
It is the first time that a date has been put forward for the phasing back of US involvement in controlling the insurgency that has raged for more than two years.
However, the deadline illustrates American confidence that the development of Iraq's security forces is proceeding as planned.
The proposal envisages that after the planned election of a five-year parliament in December the American military would withdraw from patrolling, starting a gradual pull-out from the country. America and Britain have declined to detail an exit strategy in public for fear of encouraging insurgents and being seen to cut and run.
An American officer confirmed that the withdrawal document had been circulated. He emphasised that it was intended as "prudent planning".
"No one in the chain of command is pushing us to complete our work faster or compromise our developed processes to meet some arbitrary timeline," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Somewhere little Tommy Daschle is deeply saddened.
But it's a pretty safe lie by the Telegraph, because the military will not be able to confirm or deny.
My OIF rotation ends in December, home for Christmas! While there is no firm dates on when and how fast the majority of US Forces will leave, I don't see over 100,000 troops stationed here by mid 2006
The proposed date is for a transition of primary responsibility for security from the U.S. to Iraqi government forces; not necessarily a troop pull-out. December is consistent with other reports on the target date for having the Iraqi security forces stood up, trained and ready.
Ping Sarge
It could be a chess move.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.