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Odierno: U.S. to stick to Iraq withdrawal date
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| Parent(s) |
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| Contributor | kal |
| Last Edited | kal Jun 16, 2009 07:36am |
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| Category | News |
| Author | USA Today |
| Media | Newspaper - USA Today |
| News Date | Tuesday, June 16, 2009 01:35:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | The top U.S. commander in Iraq said Monday that the country's "dark days" of violence have passed, and that improved security will allow U.S. combat troops to withdraw from cities as promised by the end of this month.
Gen. Ray Odierno had said as recently as March that U.S. troops might stay in restive areas such as the northern city of Mosul if the Iraqi government requested their help. Odierno said Monday that he feels "much more comfortable with the situation in Mosul now."
"The improvements in security have allowed for this moment," he said. "The dark days of the previous years are behind us."
Under the Iraqi-U.S. security pact that went into effect at the beginning of the year, U.S. combat troops are required to be out of the cities by June 30. The agreement does provide some flexibility, allowing for the Iraqi government to request that U.S. combat forces remain in cities beyond the deadline.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other officials have insisted the June 30 deadline must be respected. Some U.S. servicemembers will stay in cities as advisers, though Odierno declined to say exactly how many.
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