Iraq to command own forces by spring: US general

[sabra]

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/12/05/061205143626.4ntwoh2j.html

Iraq to command own forces by spring: US general

Iraq's government will have command of its own armed forces by the middle of next year, a US general has said, revealing details of a deal between the US president and the Iraqi prime minister.

US military spokesman Major General William Caldwell said Tuesday Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President George W. Bush had agreed on an "accelerated timetable" for Iraq to take charge of its own security.

The announcement came on the eve of a much-anticipated report from a panel of US experts which is expected to recommend that US forces in Iraq do exactly that, in order to disengage American troops from Iraq's bloody conflict.

"We would expect to see the entire country having reached Iraqi provincial control by the fall of next year," Caldwell told reporters in Baghdad.

"We should see the complete transfer of command and control of all Iraqi army divisions by late spring early summer," he added.

[wtmusic]

1. Great -- another six-month window

Just around the corner!! Just around the corner!!

[VegasWolf]

2. uh huh, sure, un huh. nt

[TexasLawyer]

3. Flash back one year ago

Iraqis will SOON take control!

Bush’s Prime Time Speech on Iraq

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________
December 18, 2005

ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION

<snip>

America, our Coalition, and Iraqi leaders are working toward the same goal – a democratic Iraq that can defend itself … that will never again be a safe haven for terrorists … and that will serve as a model of freedom for the Middle East.

We have put in place a strategy to achieve this goal – a strategy I have been discussing in detail over the last few weeks. This plan has three critical elements.

First, our Coalition will remain on the offense – finding and clearing out the enemy … transferring control of more territory to Iraqi units … and building up the Iraqi Security Forces so they can increasingly lead the fight. At this time last year, there were only a handful of Iraqi army and police battalions ready for combat. Now, there are more than 125 Iraqi combat battalions fighting the enemy … more than 50 are taking the lead … and we have transferred more than a dozen military bases to Iraqi control.


<snip>

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/12/18/embargoed-speech/

[Jacobin]

4. I'll be the Queen of England in six months, too

:eyes:

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Yeah, I'm sure that will happen. Take two aspirin and call me in 6 months.

What a joke.

[VWolf]

6. Woohoo!!!

Glad to hear we've turned the corner

:sarcasm:

[Ms. Clio]

7. Another Friedman Unit!

Huzzah!