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US considering troop reduction in Iraq
Washington, Oct 19: The United States is considering troop reduction in Iraq from the current 130,000 to 50,000 in 2005 in a gradual exit strategy tied to the country`s stability, senior us army officials have said.
Washington, Oct 19: The United States is considering troop reduction in Iraq from the current 130,000 to 50,000 in 2005 in a gradual exit strategy tied to the country's stability, senior us army officials have said.
The exit strategy would begin to draw down forces next spring, cutting the number of US troops in Iraq from the current 130,000 to 100,000 by next summer and then to 50,000 by 2005, officers involved in the planning told the 'Washington Post.
The first military exit strategy for Iraq, said 'The Post', is designed to show how the US presence might be reduced without undercutting the stability of the country.
The broad outline of the plan, said the officials, has been submitted to Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who has yet to approve it.
Military officials worry that if they do not begin cutting the size of the US Force in Iraq, they could damage troop morale and leave the ground forces shorthanded if crises emerge in North Korea and elsewhere.
At the same time, some of the people involved in the discussions said they consider the force reduction plan optimistic, as much a goal as a guaranteed outcome.
If implemented successfully, it could reduce political pressure on the bush administration as the presidential campaign gets fully underway.
There is deep worry in the army, said the post, that if Iraqi security forces that are being trained are not able to shoulder more of the burden, the US will have to maintain its current troop levels beyond the spring. That could create a personnel exodus that would threaten the viability of the all-volunteer force.
Bureau Report
The first military exit strategy for Iraq, said 'The Post', is designed to show how the US presence might be reduced without undercutting the stability of the country.
The broad outline of the plan, said the officials, has been submitted to Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who has yet to approve it.
Military officials worry that if they do not begin cutting the size of the US Force in Iraq, they could damage troop morale and leave the ground forces shorthanded if crises emerge in North Korea and elsewhere.
At the same time, some of the people involved in the discussions said they consider the force reduction plan optimistic, as much a goal as a guaranteed outcome.
If implemented successfully, it could reduce political pressure on the bush administration as the presidential campaign gets fully underway.
There is deep worry in the army, said the post, that if Iraqi security forces that are being trained are not able to shoulder more of the burden, the US will have to maintain its current troop levels beyond the spring. That could create a personnel exodus that would threaten the viability of the all-volunteer force.
Bureau Report