Administration negotiating major force reduction with Iraqis
Monday, July 14, 2008 Free Headline Alerts
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration, failing to reach agreement on a military cooperation accord, has dangled the prospect of a major reduction of forces in Iraq.
Officials said the Defense Department and State Department have been coordinating plans to withdraw tens of thousands of U.S. troops in Iraq over the next year. They said the proposed pullout was meant to assuage Iraqi fears of a long-term U.S. military presence as well as free up troops for Afghanistan and other countries.
"There is a need to show changes in our deployment for both foreign and domestic reasons," an official said. "We can't leave our force size the way it is for much longer."
Officials acknowledged that Iraq and the United States have failed to reach agreement on a so-called Status of Forces accord, meant to replace a United Nations mandate that expires in late 2008. They said a key dispute was over the length of the agreement — which would enable U.S. military deployment in Iraq — as well immunity for American troops from Iraqi prosecution.
Instead, Iraq and the United States have agreed to embark on an interim military agreement for only 2009. Officials said efforts to reach a long-term agreement would resume under the next U.S. administration.
Officials said the Pentagon was examining a plan to reduce the U.S. presence in Iraq by about 11,000 troops by 2009. They said this would reduce the overall U.S. military presence to less than 130,000, the lowest level since 2006.
The U.S. military has not yet relayed its recommendations on future deployment in Iraq. Officials said outgoing U.S. military commander Gen. David Petraeus was preparing to complete the review and recommendations by September 2008.