RIGA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania will withdraw half of its 100 troops
from Iraq by January, reports from the Lithuanian capital Vilnius said
Friday.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis and Defense Minister
Gediminas Kirkilas said in a joint statement that the Lithuanian government
made the decision in view of the improving political and economic climate
in Iraq and the strengthening Iraqi security forces.
In the wake of the Dec. 15 general election, the Iraqis are able to
shoulder more responsibilities in controlling the situation in their
country, said the statement.
As the Iraqi security forces are increasingly strengthened, the mission
of foreign troops is shifting to training Iraqi soldiers, it said.
Lithuania, while preserving some of the troops necessary for fighting
terrorists, will send officers to train the Iraqi forces, it said.
Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Friday on a visit
to Baghdad that the United States will withdraw some of its combat forces
from Iraq early next year. Enditem

seems every body wants to cut the troops there

the sooner we can get the hell out of here, the better.