Friday, April 01, 2005

General signals decision on Iraq troop pull-out

A top US general on Wednesday said the Pentagon could begin large withdrawals of troops from Iraq as long as the level of violence in the country remained low until national elections, scheduled for the end of the year.
Lieutenant General Lance Smith of the US air force, deputy commander of Central Command, which oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is the latest senior military commander to signal that the Pentagon is closer to a decision to bring troops home.
Donald Rumsfeld, defence secretary, has consistently argued that generals “on the ground in Iraq” will decide when they can reduce troop numbers.

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