Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
WASHINGTON, Dec 25 (AFP) - The top US military commander admitted Sunday
that Iraqis wanted US and other foreign troops to leave the country "as soon
as possible", and said US troop levels in Iraq were now being re-assessed on
a monthly basis.
The admission by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Marine General Peter Pace
followed a decision by the Pentagon to reduce its presence in Iraq by two
army brigades, which amounts to about 7,000 soldiers.
"Understandably, Iraqis themselves would prefer to have coalition forces
leave their country as soon as possible," Pace said in a Christmas Day
interview on the Fox News Sunday show. "They don't want us to leave
tomorrow, but they do want us to leave as soon as possible."
Some US foreign policy experts have expressed concern that a new Iraqi
government emerging from the December 15 parliamentary elections could ask
American and other coalition troops to leave, but officials have dismissed
that forecast as unrealistic.
However, an opinion survey conducted in Iraq in October and November by ABC
News and a pool of other US and foreign media outlets showed that despite
some improvements in security and living standards, US military operations
in the country were increasingly unpopular.
Two-thirds of those polled said they opposed the presence of US and
coalition forces in Iraq, up 14 points from a similar survey taken in
February 2004.
Nearly 60 percent disapproved of the way the United States has operated in
Iraq since the war began in March 2003, with most of those expressing
"strong disapproval," the poll found.
When asked to suggest a timing for the US pullout, 26 percent said US and
other coalition forces should "leave now," while 19 percent opted for a
withdrawal after the Iraqis formed a new government based on the results on
the December 15 election.
Among those who support a delayed pullout, 31 percent said it should happen
after security is fully restored, while 16 percent favored waiting until
Iraqi security forces can operate independently and five percent suggested
longer delays, according to the survey.
Pace denied the US Defense Department had prepared a plan that calls for
bringing the US troop level in Iraq below the 100,000 level by the end of
next year.
But he said force requirements in Iraq are being regularly assessed by the
top US military commander there, General George Casey, who may decide to
reduce or increase their numbers as the situation requires.
"They do a very, very thorough analysis, literally once a month, in great
detail," Pace said. "They then determine how many troops they need to get
the job done."
that Iraqis wanted US and other foreign troops to leave the country "as soon
as possible", and said US troop levels in Iraq were now being re-assessed on
a monthly basis.
The admission by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Marine General Peter Pace
followed a decision by the Pentagon to reduce its presence in Iraq by two
army brigades, which amounts to about 7,000 soldiers.
"Understandably, Iraqis themselves would prefer to have coalition forces
leave their country as soon as possible," Pace said in a Christmas Day
interview on the Fox News Sunday show. "They don't want us to leave
tomorrow, but they do want us to leave as soon as possible."
Some US foreign policy experts have expressed concern that a new Iraqi
government emerging from the December 15 parliamentary elections could ask
American and other coalition troops to leave, but officials have dismissed
that forecast as unrealistic.
However, an opinion survey conducted in Iraq in October and November by ABC
News and a pool of other US and foreign media outlets showed that despite
some improvements in security and living standards, US military operations
in the country were increasingly unpopular.
Two-thirds of those polled said they opposed the presence of US and
coalition forces in Iraq, up 14 points from a similar survey taken in
February 2004.
Nearly 60 percent disapproved of the way the United States has operated in
Iraq since the war began in March 2003, with most of those expressing
"strong disapproval," the poll found.
When asked to suggest a timing for the US pullout, 26 percent said US and
other coalition forces should "leave now," while 19 percent opted for a
withdrawal after the Iraqis formed a new government based on the results on
the December 15 election.
Among those who support a delayed pullout, 31 percent said it should happen
after security is fully restored, while 16 percent favored waiting until
Iraqi security forces can operate independently and five percent suggested
longer delays, according to the survey.
Pace denied the US Defense Department had prepared a plan that calls for
bringing the US troop level in Iraq below the 100,000 level by the end of
next year.
But he said force requirements in Iraq are being regularly assessed by the
top US military commander there, General George Casey, who may decide to
reduce or increase their numbers as the situation requires.
"They do a very, very thorough analysis, literally once a month, in great
detail," Pace said. "They then determine how many troops they need to get
the job done."