U.S. Military Mulls Iraq Troop Pullbacks

Chiefs To Discuss Possible Cuts For This Fall; Troops Likely To Be Redeployed to Afghanistan

(CBS/ AP)  Iraq appears on track to establishing sustainable security - a key step toward withdrawing U.S. troops - the top U.S. military officer said Monday after visiting the newly quiet Sadr City section of the capital.

Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that important elements of a solution to the Iraqi war - including reduced levels of sectarian violence, political reconciliation and stronger Iraqi forces - are coming into view more than five years after the U.S. invasion.

He repeatedly stressed, however, that the improvements are fragile and could still be reversed.

Mullen's assessment was notably upbeat and comes as the last of five Army brigades sent to Iraq in 2007 as reinforcements amid escalating sectarian conflict and rising death tolls is heading home.

"From all I see, the security conditions are holding, the level of violence is down; we're down to a level that we haven't seen in over four years," Mullen said on his fourth visit to Iraq since becoming Joint Chiefs chairman last October. "That, then, ties into decisions to be made later this year about the level of forces. So I hope we can continue the drawdown" after a late-summer pause, he added.

Mullen's remarks came at the same time that the Iraqi governement was discussing a possible timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Iraq's prime minister said Monday his country is now proposing an interim deal with the United States on the presence of American troops instead of a more formal agreement and wants to include a timetable for a U.S. withdrawal.

There are now about 145,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, down from a peak last year of nearly 170,000.

Pressed to say how much longer it might take to reach a conclusion about the permanence of the security gains, Mullen declined to be pinned down.

"I really need to spend more time with the commanders here to get their current assessment of where we are," he said. "I don't think there's going to be a clear milepost that says, `Hey, we're there."'

Mullen said he planned to meet later this week with Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, as well as Ryan Crocker, the top U.S. diplomat. Petraeus told Congress in May that he might be able to recommend further troop reductions this fall, after he makes a fresh assessment in late summer.

With the last of the five surge brigades on its way out of the country, Petraeus has told the Pentagon he expects to be able to withdraw one and possibly two more brigades from Iraq by the end of the year, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. He has not made any commitments to those additional withdrawals, insisting that he wait for the period of assessment after the last brigade is out, but the handwriting is on the wall.

Any additional brigades that are withdrawn from Iraq will almost certainly be redirected to Afghanistan, Martin adds.

Mullen flew by helicopter to Sadr City after arriving in the capital on an overnight flight from Washington. He visited U.S. troops at a coalition observation post and strolled through a market in Sadr City.

"We saw extraordinary progress there," he said. "A few months ago no one could go into Sadr City. I was able to walk openly down a street that until recently was extremely unsafe, and I'm encouraged by that."

He also described Sadr City as an area that until very recently was "a big question mark" for U.S. aims.

"That question has been in part answered," he said, implying the outlook for a positive outcome. "Continued progress will produce a more complete answer down the road."

More broadly, Mullen said progress in Iraq has been remarkable over the past six to 12 months.

"Should that continue for another six to nine to 12 months, certainly we would be in a position to make some decisions based on that. Whether, at that point in time, it would be sustainable or irreversible is something that I think we have to try to figure out."

He cautioned, without being specific, that "there are events which could change that" brighter outlook.

Mullen arrived with a small group of National Football League players, executives and cheerleaders as part of a United Services Organization contingent to entertain the troops. Drew Brees, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, and Osi Umenyiora, a star defensive lineman for the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, shook hands with hundreds of troops, signed autographs and toss around a few footballs in 110 degree heat.

[stn_sage]

jn122736: RE

stn_sage;

We have been in this Iraq fiasco for over five years now at a tremendous, unrecoverable, cost in casualties and lost treasure, every month, of every year.

To claim victory now would be likened to an addicted gambler who, after losing every hand and thousands of dollars in an all night poker game, finally wins a small hand, then goes around bragging about winning.
Posted by jn122736 at 08:04 PM : Jul 07, 2008
------------------
My response: Agreed! Pretty sad, huh?!

[samsel3]

The Times of India August 2007 reported :

" Iran, Iraq signed an agreement to build pipelines for the transfer of Iraqi crude oil and oil products." Under the deal crude will be refined and sent back to Iraq. Bush opposed this agreement and wanted the Iraqi Parliment to accept and sign a U.S. designed oil law that would result in huge profits for BIG OIL.

Iraqi oil workers and 63% of Iraqis polled are opposed to the Bush law and prefer a hands off Iraq oil policy.

[samsel3]

On January 26, 1998 in a letter to the President the PNAC asked Clinton to invade Iraq and get rid of Saddam Hussein.. Clinton refused their request.

February 12, 1998 John J. Maresca vp of UNOCAL oil appeared before a House sub committee. The purpose of the meeting was to gain support for exploitation of oil & natural gas resources in the Caspian Sea area.

In his testimony he stated, "The key question is how the energy resources of Central Asia can be made available to nearby Asian markets ". The exploitation option stated : "One obvious route south would cross Iran, but this is foreclosed by American companies because of U.S. sanctions (with Iran ) . The only other possible route is across Afghanistan, which of course has it''s own unique challenges. " He continued saying, " the pipeline we have proposed across Afghanistan could not begin until a recognized government is in place that has the confidence of governments,lenders (world monitary fund & world bank ) ,and our company "...

..."UNOCAL and other American companies are prepared to undertake the job ".

[tootall10142]

I have said this once ill say it again,WHY WOULD THE *** WANT OT DO FOR THEMSELVES WHAT THEY CAN GET THE U.S TO DO FOR THEM.Thier level of security is always propted up by our presence a smart enemy would go under the radar and pretend tp be beaten then retur with harsh agressive attacks after we leave THIER country and return to bushes land of the profiteers.

[floydzepp2]

US Releases Propaganda Piece to Save Face in Light of Al-Maliki''s Demand that the US Leave Iraq. Bush Throws Temper Tantrum, Freakvannies Rend Clothes and Gnash Teeth.

[watcher269-2009]

They have no Choice - the REAL war in Afghanistan was left unfinished and now A REAL President will have to finish a War - and make it a NOT-FOR-PROFIT WAR!

[caliengineer]

Fact is, the last two nations on earth that did not observe international "Law" (rich elitist bank-owning, Satan-worshiping snobs'' agenda, actually), were Afghanistan and Iran. The destruction of these nations is one part necessary to clench world control. Other parts: destroy American freedom (in progress) & destroy Israel. They also want to implant chips and emplace a permanent tattoo on every person. This will enable them to control every life by simply switching off their chip as punishment.
It all comes down to a battle between the henchmen of Satan and the loyal followers of God/Jesus/Holy Spirit.

[stn_sage]

This article is only another in a long series which does nothing more than misinform the public while ''buying time''for the Bush administration to continue the war in Iraq as long as possible!

On the one hand, Mullen says,''...reduced levels of sectarian violence, political reconciliation and stronger Iraqi forces...''are on-the-field. But, on the other hand, ''the improvements are fragile and could still be reversed''!

In other words, they are trying to assert BOTH sides of the argument of Iraq''s fitness to be self-sufficient. But the truth is the whole situation in Iraq could fall apart tomorrow!

Now, what MORON(s) really believes that under that situation the surge is working and we are winning the war---besides Bush, Cheney, McCain, Graham, and their neocons supporters?! I don''t think so!

Never in the history of this nation, has the attempt been made to deceive the public on a major on-going event---like the Iraq war! Thanks, Bush. Thanks, Cheney. Thanks, GOP! May God grant you your rightful reward!

[mh4cbs1]

Barocato - Bush should go down in history as the Lying War Monger that he is. His LIES are directly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands, with a huge percentage of innocent women and children shot or blown to bits.

Of course the US classroom text books may re-write history to ignore all the Bush LIES, aggression and constitution shredding. But the FACTS remain - Bush/Cheney invaded Iraq to wage a needless War to secure the oil and dominate the region.

[mh4cbs1]

IRAQ wants US OUT of their country.

Iraqis have now demanded a time table for a withdrawal!! And this is while Bush/McCain want US troops to remain in permanent bases forever (costing US billions), in order to complete the theft of Iraq''s Oil (the reason they LIED us into this needless War in the first place). And while Obama is showing the typical spineless Democratic backpedaling on getting troops OUT.

GET A CLUE America! The Iraq needless bloodbath was always an act of aggression based on total LIES about fake WMDs and fake links to Al Qaeada. Now after five years, lets see if the US will get out, or will we find another regime change, bribe or threat that will let us keep the troops in Iraq.

[barocalto]

"Bush is mulling a RonRico or
a Black Velvet night.
Posted by ajaxtheleast

RonRico is cheap rum Bush is drinking better then that and you''re paying for it. Thank you and you will be paying for his pension...

[barocalto]

Pakistan, Afghanistan- Oil
Posted by RandyNason

I don''t believe there is any large oil deposits in either of two countries, so the logic of your post is lost....

[barocalto]

This is good news from Irag, we can now look to pull back on the number of soldiers we have in theater...

You know history will treat George Bush well. Lincoln was hated in his time the media was all over him and the Democrats were not, to be kind helpful... But today Lincoln is looked upon as one of the greatest Presidents we''ve had...

Irag is becoming a working democracy right there in the Middle East, like I said this is more good news from Irag...

[ajaxtheleast]

The word "MULL" is too lackadaisical
a mental application to decide where
next to send somenoe to die.

Should be something like: "the military
is carefully deciding".

"MULL" IS FOR:

"Bush is mulling a RonRico or
a Black Velvet night.

[randynason]

Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan- It''s hard to tell the difference from one country to another, anymore. There is one thing that is similar in all three countries: the U.S. has had a hand in manipulating the internal politics. There is no doubt that the one and only thing that keeps us engaged in that part of the world is oil. The greed wouldn''t be so horrible if it wasn''t for the deceit, killing and the lies.

[j-whitman]

jb01201a,,,, By your analogy our Marine Corps are surrender libs ---- They don''t think much of McBush either by far.

[j-whitman]

jb01201a,,,, Nope, the 4th was nice & quiet up here, hardly any cellebrations going on.

You keep echoing McCain''s retreat BS... Start paying attention, our troops would appreciate it.

[jb01201a]

Xhitman - I''ll bet the fourth of july must have been a bad day for you and the libs !
Oh, I know --- Maliki wants Obama''''s policy & not McBush''''s - in your case and you schmuck libs - retreat and hold your head in the sand - chamberline would have loved all you modern American lib.

[irliberal]

Troop pullbacks heh... Just in time for the election. HOW CONVEEEEENIENT. LOL

I have a nephew that''s a little under one year old that might not see through this. For everyone else, it''s *LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH*

[j-whitman]

TheNewConser,,, What''s the good news ?? They only buy American cars for their car bombs ??

Oh, I know --- Maliki wants Obama''s policy & not McBush''s