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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SilentZ who wrote (240751)	7/10/2005 10:38:39 AM
From: RetiredNow	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1572373

British memo shows US hopes for rapid Iraq drawdown Sun Jul 10, 2005 7:44 AM ET today.reuters.com By Peter Graff BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A leaked British memo outlining plans to bring more than half of U.S. troops home from Iraq within a year gives the clearest picture yet of how quickly Washington hopes Iraqi forces can take over. The British government document, published by the Mail on Sunday newspaper, said Washington is discussing plans to cut its force -- now nearly 140,000 -- to just 66,000 by the middle of next year. Britain would cut its own force to 3,000 from 8,500. "Emerging U.S. plans assume 14 out of 18 provinces could be handed over to Iraqi control by early 2006," the memo said, although it made clear the U.S. military's tempo for troop cuts is not set in stone, with commanders still divided: "There is, however, a debate between the Pentagon/Centcom, who favor a relatively bold reduction in force numbers and the multinational force in Iraq, whose approach is more cautious." British Defense Secretary John Reid did not deny that the memo was genuine, although he said it represented only "prudent planning" for one possible scenario. But for the first time it puts a tentative timeline on the strategy President Bush described in a keynote speech last month: "As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down." ALLY'S VIEW Although the memo comes from across the Atlantic, there is little reason to doubt it gives a fair view of U.S. thinking. Washington's closest ally has been well appraised of U.S. strategy since Britain sent 45,000 troops to back the invasion. As it stands, the current U.S.-led multinational force in Iraq is made up of six divisions totaling 160,000 troops. Poland and Britain command one each in the mainly Shi'ite south, which has been comparatively quiet since a Shi'ite uprising was put down in August last year. The British memo says London would turn over its territory to Iraqis early next year. today.reuters.com