50,000 U.S. soldiers in Iraq by August 2010 – source

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: U.S. forces in Iraq will be reduced to 50,000 soldiers by August 2010, according to a U.S. army spokesman. David Nader also reconfirmed the American government’s commitment to the Iraq-U.S. long-term security pact. “The U.S. government is moving ahead to minimize its forces in Iraq,” Nader told Iraqi News. “U.S. troops, meanwhile, will continue to support Iraqi security forces to improve their skills to face security challenges,” he added. Nader denied any changes in the strategic agreement between the two states, stressing that the U.S., which currently has 130,000 soldiers in Iraq, will have only 50,000 by August 2010. MH (P)/AmR 1