U.S. Military: Obama Decision on Iraq Troops 'Soon'

[Hissyspit]

Source: AFP

Obama decision on Iraq troops 'soon': US military

40 minutes ago
BAGHDAD (AFP) — The US military insisted on Sunday it would be out of Iraqi cities by the end of June and indicated that President Barack Obama would announce "shortly" if troops would be redeployed to Afghanistan.

Obama last week approved an extra 17,000 soldiers for Afghanistan, having been asked for near twice that number, confirming that Washington's focus was shifting from Baghdad to Kabul as the security situation in Iraq improves.

"There is no doubt that we will be out of the cities by June," US military spokesman Major General David Perkins told reporters in Baghdad, reiterating a commitment made to the Iraqi government under a deal struck last November.

Under the so-called Status of Forces Agreement, all US troops must leave Iraq by the end of 2011, and troop numbers are already being reduced. There are 146,000 US soldiers in Iraq and only 38,000 in Afghanistan, according to the latest Pentagon figures.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iURHDQA_NulH7f8MiDTRPGuwHGNw

[dipsydoodle]

1. Well if he asks nicely

maybe the Iranians will just let them catch buses across Iran , using the scenic route, to get to Afghanistan. :sarcasm:

[Offred]

2. Petraeus and McKiernan

Wow, has he discussed this with General Petraeus and McKiernan (sorry, don't recall his title)? Last thing I remember reading was that those two fully intended to keep troops in Iraq for as long as THEY thought necessary.

[alfredo]

3. The move to Afghanistan is troubling. If there is a radical change in

tactics away from making war to making factories and orchards, I would feel better.