US general seeks Iraq pullout in early 2006

Iraq's prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said last night he wants US troops "on their way out" as soon as his government can …

Iraq's prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said last night he wants US troops "on their way out" as soon as his government can protect its new democracy.

General George Casey, the top American general in the country, said he hopes to begin significant withdrawal by next spring.

The great desire of the Iraqi people is to see the coalition forces on their way out
Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari

At the same time, in an unannounced visit, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Iraqi security forces should take on more tasks now performed by US troops.

US military commanders have expressed hopes in recent months that they could begin major troop reductions next year, depending on the intensity of the insurgency.

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Even so, the latest remarks seemed to signal a new willingness to discuss specific ways US troops might exit an increasingly unpopular war in which nearly 2,000 have died.

Mr Al-Jaafari, speaking at a joint news conference with Mr Rumsfeld, said, "The great desire of the Iraqi people is to see the coalition forces on their way out."

However, comments by Gen Casey drew the most notice. He told reporters that a "fairly substantial" withdrawal of US troops could go ahead in the spring and summer of 2006 if the Iraqi political process is not derailed and the insurgency does not grow.

Pentagon officials have provided little detail in discussing the possible withdrawal of forces from Iraq. The most specific estimate has come from Lt. Gen. John Vines, who runs day-to-day military operations in Iraq.

He said in June that a reduction of "four or five brigades" perhaps 20,000 troops out of the current 135,000 was possible sometime next year.