U.S. commander sees no handover to Iraqis into next year

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U.S. commander sees no handover to Iraqis into next year
Associated Press

Ramadi, Iraq — An American commander has said U.S. forces likely would remain in the heart of rebellious Anbar province — the most dangerous region of Iraq — until some time next year, even as the Bush administration on Monday was considering a plan that could cut the American military presence by about half within 18 months.

The central section of Anbar province, which contains the troubled provincial capital of Ramadi, is a haven for the Sunni-led insurgency. Much of Ramadi, Iraq's largest Sunni Arab city with a population of 400,000, has gone unpatrolled by U.S. forces in recent months.

While two brigades of Iraqi soldiers have recently been introduced to central Anbar province, the U.S. commander of the area said last week that Americans would remain in charge for the foreseeable future. More than 5,000 U.S. forces are based in the area.

“I don't think by this winter we'll be quite ready to turn over completely” to Iraqi forces, said Army Colonel Sean MacFarland, commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division that oversees Ramadi and a stretch of farmland leading eastward for about 30 miles.