US cuts troops in Iraq to less than 50,000
Source: Agencies |
August 25, 2010, Wednesday
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THE number of American troops in Iraq has fallen below 50,000 for the first time since the 2003 US-led invasion and ahead of the end-of-the-month deadline mandated by President Barack Obama, the United States military said in a statement yesterday.
The number is a watershed in the more than seven years that the US has been at war in Iraq. Under Obama's plan, American forces will no longer conduct combat operations but are instead to focus on training Iraqi troops.
"We've met our goal," General Ray Odierno, the commanding general in Iraq, told reporters yesterday. "But the story is not about 50,000. The story is that we are continuing to be committed to Iraq. But our commitment is going to change."
Odierno said that going forward, the focus will be on economic, political, cultural, and technological developments as opposed to just the military relationship.
There are currently 49,700 troops in Iraq and that number will remain level through next summer, Odierno said.
The drawdown comes at a fragile moment in Iraq's history when many are wondering whether the country's tenuous security and democracy gains are at risk of backsliding. The country has gone almost half a year without a new government following the March 7 parliamentary elections.
The elections failed to produce a clear winner to lead Iraq as American forces withdraw, and frequent attacks by insurgents are raising doubts about the ability of Iraqi forces to protect the country in the absence of American backup.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose State of Law Coalition garnered 89 seats in the election, has been battling to retain his office. A Sunni-backed coalition led by former prime minister Ayad Allawi, who is Shiite, won 91 seats in the balloting. But in Iraq's deeply fragmented political system that still adheres closely to sectarian politics, neither side has been able to pull together a majority coalition.
The political stalemate shows no signs of abating before September 1, when Odierno will officially hand over responsibilities to Lieutenant General Lloyd Austin III. At that time, Operation Iraqi Freedom - as the war has been called - will officially be changed to Operation New Dawn.
American officials have said repeatedly that their decision to continue with the drawdown - despite the absence of a new government in Iraq - reflects the improved security situation in recent years and their confidence in the ability of Iraqi security forces to protect the country.
The number is a watershed in the more than seven years that the US has been at war in Iraq. Under Obama's plan, American forces will no longer conduct combat operations but are instead to focus on training Iraqi troops.
"We've met our goal," General Ray Odierno, the commanding general in Iraq, told reporters yesterday. "But the story is not about 50,000. The story is that we are continuing to be committed to Iraq. But our commitment is going to change."
Odierno said that going forward, the focus will be on economic, political, cultural, and technological developments as opposed to just the military relationship.
There are currently 49,700 troops in Iraq and that number will remain level through next summer, Odierno said.
The drawdown comes at a fragile moment in Iraq's history when many are wondering whether the country's tenuous security and democracy gains are at risk of backsliding. The country has gone almost half a year without a new government following the March 7 parliamentary elections.
The elections failed to produce a clear winner to lead Iraq as American forces withdraw, and frequent attacks by insurgents are raising doubts about the ability of Iraqi forces to protect the country in the absence of American backup.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose State of Law Coalition garnered 89 seats in the election, has been battling to retain his office. A Sunni-backed coalition led by former prime minister Ayad Allawi, who is Shiite, won 91 seats in the balloting. But in Iraq's deeply fragmented political system that still adheres closely to sectarian politics, neither side has been able to pull together a majority coalition.
The political stalemate shows no signs of abating before September 1, when Odierno will officially hand over responsibilities to Lieutenant General Lloyd Austin III. At that time, Operation Iraqi Freedom - as the war has been called - will officially be changed to Operation New Dawn.
American officials have said repeatedly that their decision to continue with the drawdown - despite the absence of a new government in Iraq - reflects the improved security situation in recent years and their confidence in the ability of Iraqi security forces to protect the country.
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