Withdrawal of First Large Phase of Combat Troops Likely to be Delayed for at Least a Month (Iraq)

Source: Guardian

Iraq violence set to delay US troop withdrawal

The United States is likely to delay the withdrawal of the first large phase of combat troops from Iraq for at least a month after escalating bloodshed and political instability in the country.

The US Commanding General Ray Odierno had been due to give the order within 60 days of the general election held in Iraq on 7 March, when the cross-sectarian candidate Ayad Allawi edged out the incumbent leader, Nouri al-Maliki.

US officials had been prepared for delays in negotiations to form a new government, but now appear to have balked after Maliki's coalition aligned itself with the theocratic Shia bloc to the exclusion of Allawi, who attracted the bulk of the minority Sunni vote. There is also concern over interference from Iraq's neighbours, Iran, Turkey and Syria

With sectarian tensions rising, the al-Qaida fighters in Iraq and affiliated Sunni extremist groups have mounted bombing campaigns and assassinations around the country. The violence is widely seen as an attempt to intimidate all sides of the political spectrum and press home the message to the departing US forces that militancy remains a formidable foe.

General Odierno has kept a low profile since announcing the deaths of al-Qaida's two leaders in Iraq, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and Abu Ayub al-Masri, who were killed in a combined Iraqi-US raid on 18 April. The operation was hailed then as a near fatal blow against al-Qaida, but violence has intensified ever since.

(snip)

The withdrawal order is eagerly awaited by the 92,000 US troops still in Iraq – they mostly remain confined to their bases. This month, General Odierno was supposed to have ordered the pullout of 12,500, a figure that was meant to escalate every week between now and 31 August, when only 50,000 US troops are set to remain – all of them non-combat forces.

more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/12/iraq-us-troop-withdrawal-delay

Ho-hum

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=126222§ionid=351020201

That the Pentagon Press Secretary said the recent surge in violence would not affect this summer's planned withdrawal.

while you quoted the actual people in charge.

schedule. They still are planning on having the 41,000+ combat troops out by August 31. The pace of the withdrawal, though, may change or be delayed. We'll see if they meet to previous scheduled pace or if they go to the delayed pace later this month, when the order come.

Both claims can actual be accurate. They can still meet the deadline and delay the pace of withdrawal.

As for the Pentagon, they are choosing their words very carefully. So far, they are on schedule. The first big group to exit Iraq are supposed to get their orders this month. They may still meet that and I hope they do.

However, they could delay for one month the first big group to exit and still claim that they are going to have the entire 41,000+ combat troops out by August 31. And, they could still meet that goal.

Delaying any more, though, is a troubling sign. They already have pushed back the plan for the big groups to leave when the Iraq elections were delayed from Dec to March.

"The plan was always to be at about 91,000 by the end of May, after which point the more accelerated drawdown would begin," he said.
"They clearly believe they can do that,"


That quote can stand as accurate, while at the same time, there being a delay in the pace. We will hit the 91,000 left by the end of May. The question is will June be the first month of the high-number withdrawal (as planned), or will the high-number withdrawal be delayed for one month.

this month or not? That is the point of this article. The Pentagon can delay that order while simultaneously claiming that all combat troops will be out in August.

:sarcasm:

want. :sarcasm:

Everyday I trust Obama less. :mad:

NOT.until.every.drop.of.oil.is.sucked.out.of.the.country.

:rofl:

don't the Iraqi's understand...

behave yourselves another year and then when the uS is gone you can raise hell.

:sarcasm: