Nomination hearing
Current drawdown will leave 140,000 in Iraq.


Troop cuts possible in fall, Petraeus says
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Friday May 23, 2008 5:54:12 EDT

More U.S. troop reductions in Iraq — possibly an entire brigade combat team — are likely to be recommended this fall, the general nominated to lead all U.S. forces in the Middle East said Thursday.

Army Gen. David Petraeus also told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the past week registered the lowest levels of violence in Iraq in the past four years and that he expects military control of two Iraqi provinces to be turned over to Iraqi security forces over the next several months.

Anbar province, once among Iraq’s most violent, should make the transition next month, he said.

The occasion was an unusual dual nomination hearing by the committee for Petraeus and Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno to take two of the top combat leadership jobs in the Middle East — Petraeus as the new U.S. Central Command chief, and Odierno as Petraeus’ replacement as commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq.

If confirmed, the two would likely change jobs in September, and Odierno would receive his fourth star.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/military_petraeus_odierno_052208w/



uhc comment: Before * escalated, there were 130,000 troops in country.

How the fuck is 140,000 a cut?