MNF announces force drawdown

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Two combat brigades that had been scheduled to return to Iraq this year will not be replaced, the U.S. military announced today, signaling a first step in President Barack Obama’s plan to end combat operations there by 2010, the New York Times said on Sunday. “In addition, the last 4,000 British troops in Iraq are now due to leave by September,” the newspaper added. “United States military commanders had signaled last week that their troops would not be replaced, reducing American forces by 12,000 and the number of brigades to 12 from 14. The United States will also hand off 74 facilities and areas under its control to the Iraqis by the end of March, The Associated Press reported.” “There are currently about 142,000 American troops in Iraq, where security conditions have improved significantly over the previous year. ‘The time and conditions are right for Coalition forces to reduce the number of troops in Iraq,’ General Ray Odierno, the commander in Iraq, said in a statement.” “The troop reductions mark the beginning of the withdrawal process outlined by President Obama in late February and required by the status of forces agreement, negotiated under President George W. Bush at the end of 2008. Both call for the removal of all United States troops from Iraq by the end of 2011,” according to the report. “Under Mr. Obama’s plan, 35,000 to 50,000 troops would remain in Iraq to manage the transition to full Iraqi control by the end of 2011,” the report concluded. SS (S) 1