After the ‘surge,’ what’s next for Iraq?

[unhappycamper]

After the ‘surge,’ what’s next for Iraq?
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jan 27, 2008 8:30:18 EST

For U.S. troops, the final year of the Iraq war under the Bush administration will combine protection of the Iraqi populace, the pursuit of violent extremists, and continued intensive training of Iraq’s army and police forces so they can increasingly take the lead in their respective tasks.

Where that leaves the U.S. posture in Iraq is a big question mark — and will remain so at least until some time in March, when Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, will return to Washington to deliver his latest assessment of the situation on the ground.

Defense leaders say they are fairly certain that the ongoing withdrawal of the equivalent of five brigade combat teams President Bush sent to Iraq last year will continue through July.

“All the evidence available to me now suggests that we will be able to complete the drawdown,” Defense Secretary Robert Gates said at the Pentagon on Jan. 17.

To not do so would exacerbate the well-documented strain on the Army, whose nondeployed forces generally are considered to be in a less-than-ready state.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/army_whatsnextiraq_080127w/

[kstewart33]

1. It leaves us with McCain planning our next war if he's elected. nt