President Obama has said throughout his campaign that he wanted ALL U.S. troops put of Iraq within 16 months of his inauguration.

Lately, he’s been open to suggestions.

Here is the top U.S. commander in Iraq’s alternative:

[NYT]  -  “I believe that if we can get through the next year peacefully, with incidents about what they are today or better, I think we’re getting close to enduring stability, which enables us to really reduce,” General Odierno said as he inspected a polling center south of Baghdad in advance of provincial elections on Saturday.

General Odierno said the period between this weekend’s elections and the national elections to be held about a year from now would be critical to determining the future of Iraq. While some American forces could be withdrawn before then, he suggested that the bulk of any pullout would probably come after that.

“We are going to reduce forces this year,” the general said. “It’s the right time to reduce our forces here. I believe that Iraqis are making progress. It’s time for us in some places to step back and give them more control.” He added, “What we want to do is to slowly shift our mission from one that’s focused on counterinsurgency to one that’s more focused on stability operations.”

In a nut shell, withdraw 2 brigades this year and slowly withdraw remaining brigades after 2010 which could take several more years??

All indications say that Obama is seriously considering this alternative.

hmmm….   My opinion?  We’re wasting money, resources, and lives in a war that should have been declared over months ago.  Obama has it right with the 16 month time-frame.  But I suspect that after all of his security briefings which he is now privy to as the President, Obama may move at a “slower withdraw” pace as is being suggested to him here.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.