20,000 US troops may leave Iraq in March

S troops may start withdrawing from Iraq in March, a US general said, as the new US ambassador to the war-torn country pledged to help Iraqis crush a ruthless insurgency.

As many as four or five brigades (up to 20,000 people) could leave if the country's ethnic groups agree on a constitution and elect a government that has broad support, Lieutenant General John Vines said in Washington via video link from Iraq.

"I suspect we will probably draw down capability after the election, because Iraqi security forces are more capable," Vines said. He referred to planned elections at the end of this year that would follow hoped-for approval of a new constitution in October.

The number-two US commander in Iraq forecast that the insurgency would dwindle rapidly if the political process succeeded, but said any drawdown would depend on conditions on the ground.

Thanks for post.
May I echo the words of the President of the United States of America. We will leave when the job is done. I believe someone asked the good general to make this statement for public consumption. Do notice the numbers given. 20,000 next March. Sounds about right. Based on estimates that have been handed down for over a year. Nothing has deviated in the over all plan. Really. All along this same theme has been projected. Once the Iraqi security forces of all flavors are given the sign off they are capable then our forces start to withdraw in certain areas of Iraq. We must remember that the constitution was planned to be written up and ratified in the summer of 2005. It is on schedule to be done. The final full Iraqi government voted in by the people of Iraq has been all along scheduled for late 2005 or early 2006. Once the constitutioni is drawn up and ratified, which of course shall contain new words as how a government is to be elected etc., all parties do their thing, hopefully better then we do here in recent years, and move toward their final destiny. Free democratic elections perhaps first quarter next year. Meanwhile our dear Army, Airforce, Navy, and Marines continue training to units of Iraqi Forces, integrate the current ones that really are starting to do a great job in some units, and equally important integrate these Iraqi forces into our current military ops to continue to give their new officer corps, ncos and enlisted ranks experience, and for them and us to kill local and foreign terrorist and insurgents.
So naturally it is safe we can downsize by 20,000 early next year. Many are schedule to rotate out anyway this fall through the end of the year. So I see this as a sort of no brainer. The statement was schedule to be announce a long time ago in essence. It fits the plan, as has been followed.
Put another way, it is a safe statement to make. But should not surprise anyone.

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