100,000 U.S. Troops Could Leave Soon: Iraq President Talabani

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

100,000 U.S. troops could leave soon: Iraq president
By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At least 100,000 U.S. troops could return home from Iraq by the end of 2008, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said in an interview aired on Sunday, although he proposed that several American military bases stay in Iraq.

Speaking on CNN television, Talabani envisioned faster U.S. troop reductions than U.S. commanders have discussed in public. But he stressed that the pace of withdrawal was up to those commanders and did not explain why he foresaw a faster pullout.

"I think it is possible at the end of the next year that a big part of the American Army will be back here," said Talabani, who gave the interview during a trip to the United States. "More than 100,000 (troops) can be back by the end of the next year."

But Talabani, a Kurd and former guerrilla leader who fought Saddam Hussein, said he was not pushing for an independent Kurdistan in Iraq's North, because neighboring countries would never agree to it.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071007/wl_nm/iraq_usa_talabani_dc

[aquart]

1. Thanks for coming, here's your hat.

"End of 2008'? As a personal favor to Georgie?

[cstanleytech]

2. Probably.

He does have a direct interest after all in keeping the republicans in charge in the whitehouse.

[bluestateguy]

3. That's some sovereign leader there

"100,000 foreign troops may leave my country at the end of next year, but only if the invading country decides that it is OK"

[Andy Canuck]

4. Maybe they are all

going to be posted in Iran.

[tanyev]

5. Why, I bet they'll make an official announcement shortly before Nov. 4!

[ellenfl]

6. i think he's talking about blackwater. eom

[jaysunb]

7. you're probably right

n/t

[bemildred]

8. Talk to me when "would" becomes "will", with dates. nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. 'Soon'? That's two and a half Friedmans in the future

In that time scale, we could have had the Second Coming, the Detroit Lions winning the Superbowl, and an admission of guilt by all Republicans. The last seems the least likely.

[ohio2007]

10. Guess he senses there will be no "Tet" offensive

Better than him saying US needs to double thier force by Nov '08

[damntexdem]

11. And maybe 180k mercenaries, too?

How can he see a faster pullout? Well, maybe a push can speed up a pull. ;-)

[daleo]

12. 100,000 U.S. troops could leave by 2008

To be replaced by a different 100,000 U.S. troops.

[IndianaGreen]

13. They are leaving for Iran

that's the only plausible explanation.

[daleo]

14. That is certainly a possibility

Although 100,000 troops might only be a start. Iran is awfully big.