Petraeus set to withdraw more troops

Petraeus set to withdraw more troops

By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington

Published: May 22 2008 21:09 | Last updated: May 22 2008 21:09

The top US commander in Iraq on Thursday told Congress that he expected to recommend further troop withdrawals this summer following the unwinding of the military “surge”.

General David Petraeus said recent reductions in violence should allow him to recommend that the US resume withdrawing troops after the summer. Last month the four-star general – who has been credited with the success of the surge – recommended that the Pentagon have a 45-day pause to assess the impact of the departure of the additional forces.

“My sense is that I will be able to make a recommendation at that time for some further reductions,” Gen Petraeus told the Senate armed services committee.

Gen Petraeus appeared before the committee for a hearing over his nomination as head of US Central Command, which has responsibility for US operations in central Asia, the horn of Africa and the Middle East. He was joined by General Raymond Odierno, his former number two in Iraq, who is slated to replace him as US commander in the country.

US force levels in Iraq are set to drop to about 140,000 in July after the final surge brigade leaves. Senior officials in the US military have been debating whether the situation in Iraq would allow the Pentagon to withdraw one more brigade before the end of the year.

Gen Petraeus stressed that his recommendation would not necessarily imply removing a full brigade, or about 3,500 soldiers.

“I don’t want to imply that that means a BCT [brigade combat team] or major combat formation, although it could,” said Gen Petraeus. “But I do believe that there will be certain assets that . . . we’ll be able to recommend can be either redeployed or not deployed to the theatre in the fall.”

Gen Petraeus will make his recommendation just two months before the US presidential election. Senator John McCain, the Republican nominee, has been a strong supporter of the surge and of continuing a US troop presence in Iraq.

However, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the two Democratic contenders, are calling for a structured withdrawal.

While Democrats are increasingly critical of the war in Iraq, the members of the armed services committee praised Gen Petraeus and Gen Odierno lavishly.

“Regardless of how long the administration may choose to remain engaged in the strife in that country, our troops are better off for the leadership that these two distinguished soldiers provide,” said Carl Levin, the Democratic chairman of the committee.