U.S. General in Iraq Outlines Timetable for Troop Withdraw

The top American commander in Iraq has drafted a plan that projects sharp reductions in the United States military presence there by the end of 2007, with the first cuts coming this September, American officials say.

According to a classified briefing at the Pentagon this week by the commander, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the number of American combat brigades in Iraq is projected to decrease to 5 or 6 from the current level of 14 by December 2007

Under the plan, the first reductions would involve two combat brigades that would rotate out of Iraq in September without being replaced. Combat brigades, which generally have about 3,500 troops, do not make up the bulk of the 127,000-member American force in Iraq.

American officials emphasized that any withdrawals would depend on continued progress, including the development of competent Iraqi security forces, a reduction in Sunni Arab hostility toward the new Iraqi government and the assumption that the insurgency will not expand beyond Iraq's six central provinces. Even so, the projected troop withdrawals in 2007 are more significant than many experts had expected.

(Funny how just a few days ago when the Dems proposed a timetable for troop withdraw, they were called cowards and cut and runners. A timetable helps the terrorists - we were told. Now we learn there's a timetable for troop withdraw being advanced by the military. The first part of the plan to start shortly before the midterm elections - the REST of the plan of course would be dependent upon conditions on the ground. Since NOTHING has gone the way they said it would why would we expect conditions to be improved enough for the more significant withdraws AFTER the midterms? Why does General Casey want to help the terrorists? Why does General Casey want to cut and run? Hmmmmm? )

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