General James Jones calls for troops cuts in his report, but no deadline

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1 hour, 2 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - (The Iraq occupation) appraisal overseen by retired Marine General James Jones said that Iraq's military is at least 12-18 months away from assuming combat duties from US soldiers, while its police force is so corrupt that it should be disbanded.

But the sprawling US military footprint should also be reduced to give Iraqis a better signal of US intentions, Jones's blue-ribbon commission of veteran military and police chiefs said in its report to Congress.

"The unintended message conveyed is one of 'permanence,' an occupying force, as it were," said the report, the latest in a flurry of progress updates to come during a pivotal 10-day period for US policy in the war-torn nation.

"What is needed is the opposite impression: one that is lighter, less massive and more expeditionary," it said.

"We recommend that careful consideration of the size of our national footprint in Iraq be reconsidered with regard to its efficiency, necessity and cost.

"Significant reductions, consolidations, and realignments would appear to be possible and prudent."


"I think deadlines can work against us, and I think a deadline of this magnitude would be against our national interest," the former top US commander in Europe told the Senate Armed Services Committee.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070906/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqmilitary_070906233210


Gen. Jones is concerned with the "impression" of their occupation and wants to "reduce the footprint" to make it look like we're leaving -- take Iraq out of the U.S. headlines during the election season, but continue with their military "expeditions." Lipstick on a pig . . .