Gates: Iraq troop withdrawals remain on track

[unhappycamper]

Gates: Iraq troop withdrawals remain on track
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jan 18, 2008 5:44:15 EST

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday “all available evidence” shows U.S. plans to withdraw five U.S. combat brigades from Iraq through midyear remain on track — which would bring the overall troop level to about 130,000 or so.

He said he made clear to Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander, that conditions on the ground will determine whether further troop withdrawals can be made through the end of 2008.

“We will wait to see General Petraeus’ evaluation in March as far as what we might be able to do in July,” Gates said, adding that he remains hopeful that “the pace of the drawdowns in the first half of the year will continue in the second half of the year.”

Previously, Gates has expressed hopes that the U.S. military presence in Iraq can drop to around 100,000 troops before President Bush leaves office in 12 months’ time.


Article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_gates_withdrawal_080117/