US troops to scale back presence in Fallujah

[Judi Lynn]

US troops to scale back presence in Fallujah
Web posted at: 7/13/2003 2:56:55
Source ::: AFP
FALLUJAH, Iraq: Iraqi police and the US army presented a united front in the restive town of Fallujah yesterday with plans afoot to scale back the inflammatory presence of American soldiers.

But local police made no secret of their desire to see the backs of the occupiers.

The region's coalition commander stressed a US evacuation of the main police station and municipal office would not occur until sufficient equipment such as pistols and communications systems were obtained, and Fallujah police demonstrated a capability to maintain control.

"There's no withdrawal, there's no retreat. It's a gradual transition and it started roughly a week ago," Colonel Joseph Di Salvo, the Second Brigade commander of the Third Infantry Division, told reporters in Fallujah, 50 kilometers west of Baghdad. (snip)

(snip) "We told the Americans that their presence at the station would make us targets," deputy police chief Colonel Jilal Sabri said. "If the Americans leave government buildings things will become more stable," he said, adding that jittery US troops on night patrols have responded heavy-handedly to various incidents, leading to local ire. (snip/...)

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[GalleryGod]

1. Time to Cut N' Run,Pardners!

Let's get the feck outta here:eyes:,Boss!

[NYC]

2. Here's an article that said they were reducing from 30 to 6:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=8776&mesg_id=8776&page=8