Iraqis to take over security in north in 3-6 months: US general

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Iraqi forces will take over security for northern Iraq in three to six months, opening opportunities to reduce US combat forces in the region, a US commander said.

Major General Benjamin Mixon, commander of the Multinational Division-North, said a decision on US force levels in the six provinces centered around Mosul could come next summer during the normal rotation of US forces.

"And there will be decisions made, I'm sure, above my level where we may see a reduction in the numbers of forces that are on the ground and certainly an increase in those that are in a role of advising the Iraqi security forces," he said.

Command of all four Iraqi army divisions will have been put under control of the Iraqi Defense Ministry by the end of February, the general said.

"We will continue to partner with our Iraqi partners and I expect that over the next three to six months, they will assume full responsibility for the security of the Iraqi people," he said.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061201/pl_afp/usiraqmilitaryforces

[acmavm]

1. Please excuse my laughter. That was rude.

[John Q. Citizen]

2. Partnering: Who get's the frequent flyer miles?

[mikeytherat]

3. Parsing out the wazoo in this article:

Iraqi forces will take over security for northern Iraq in three to six months

a decision on US force levels in the six provinces centered around Mosul could come next summer during the normal rotation of US forces

we may see a reduction in the numbers of forces that are on the ground

mikey_the_rat

[otohara]

4. Hooey

or should I say more hooey. We'll be hearing 3 to 6 months again in 3 to 6 months from now.

[xultar]

5. 3 to 6 months. Sounds like a time table to me.

[independentpiney]

6. Kurdish forces, not Iraqi forces

the uniform doesn't matter.

[phusion]

7. OK...

I'll believe it when I see it.

[saigon68]

8. Benjamin Mixon = CRACK SMOKER AND HOLOCAUST DENYER

[Tempest]

9. 3,000 Iraqi military leaders thrown out in the last month

According to NPR, Al-Maliki is quoted as saying 3,000 Iraqi military commanders were thrown out of the military last month alone for corruption and ties to militia groups. He made it sound like it was a normal month's attrition rate.

Nothing from the U.S. military can be believed.

[deadparrot]

10. Didn't they say this same thing 3-6 months ago?

:shrug:

[calimary]

11. Man, they sure love that "...next six months" crap. Well, I could turn

into Pamela Anderson in the "next six months" if I had enough money, time in the operating room, and the appropriate plastic surgeon.