US sticking to end-of-year Iraq withdrawal plan
Source: Agencies |
October 17, 2011, Monday
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THE US is abandoning plans to keep troops in Iraq past the end-of-year withdrawal deadline.
The decision to pull out fully by January will end more than eight years of US involvement in the Iraq war, despite continuing concerns about its security forces and the potential for instability.
The decision ends months of hand-wringing by US officials over whether to stick to a December 31 withdrawal deadline set in 2008 or negotiate a new security agreement to ensure gains made and more than 4,400 US military lives lost since March 2003 do not go to waste.
Washington had been discussing with Iraqi leaders the possibility of several thousand American troops remaining to continue training Iraqi security forces. A Pentagon spokesman said on Saturday that no final decision has been reached.
But a senior official in President Barack Obama's administration has confirmed Saturday all US troops will leave Iraq except for about 160 attached to the US Embassy.
A senior US military official confirmed the plan and said the withdrawal could allow future but limited US military training missions in Iraq if requested.
Throughout the discussions, Iraqi leaders have adamantly refused to give US troops immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts, and the US has refused to stay without it.
Iraq's leadership has been split over US forces staying. Some argued the further training and US help was vital, particularly to protect Iraq's airspace and gather security intelligence. But others have opposed a US troop presence, including Shiite militiamen who have threatened attacks on any US forces that remain.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has told US military officials he does not have the votes in parliament to provide immunity to US trainers.
A western diplomatic official in Iraq said al-Maliki told international diplomats he will not bring the immunity issue to parliament because lawmakers will not approve it.
Whether of not US troops leave, there will be a huge American diplomatic presence. The US Embassy in Baghdad is the largest in the world, and the State Department will have offices in Basra, Irbil, Kirkuk and other centers.
The decision to pull out fully by January will end more than eight years of US involvement in the Iraq war, despite continuing concerns about its security forces and the potential for instability.
The decision ends months of hand-wringing by US officials over whether to stick to a December 31 withdrawal deadline set in 2008 or negotiate a new security agreement to ensure gains made and more than 4,400 US military lives lost since March 2003 do not go to waste.
Washington had been discussing with Iraqi leaders the possibility of several thousand American troops remaining to continue training Iraqi security forces. A Pentagon spokesman said on Saturday that no final decision has been reached.
But a senior official in President Barack Obama's administration has confirmed Saturday all US troops will leave Iraq except for about 160 attached to the US Embassy.
A senior US military official confirmed the plan and said the withdrawal could allow future but limited US military training missions in Iraq if requested.
Throughout the discussions, Iraqi leaders have adamantly refused to give US troops immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts, and the US has refused to stay without it.
Iraq's leadership has been split over US forces staying. Some argued the further training and US help was vital, particularly to protect Iraq's airspace and gather security intelligence. But others have opposed a US troop presence, including Shiite militiamen who have threatened attacks on any US forces that remain.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has told US military officials he does not have the votes in parliament to provide immunity to US trainers.
A western diplomatic official in Iraq said al-Maliki told international diplomats he will not bring the immunity issue to parliament because lawmakers will not approve it.
Whether of not US troops leave, there will be a huge American diplomatic presence. The US Embassy in Baghdad is the largest in the world, and the State Department will have offices in Basra, Irbil, Kirkuk and other centers.
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