U.S. to End Iraq Administration by June

[Blue-Jay]

By SLOBODAN LEKIC, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - American administrators will hand over sovereignty to a new transitional government by June, the Iraqi Governing Council said Saturday, announcing an accelerated U.S. plan for ending the occupation of Iraq (news - web sites).


The plan would mean the end of the U.S.-led coalition administration in Iraq, but not the end of the American troop presence. The new Iraqi government would negotiate an accord on the status of U.S. forces in the country.

The announcement came on a day when the 400th U.S. soldier died in Iraq since major combat started here March 20, and two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters crashed in the north. Witnesses in the city of Mosul said the two aircraft collided in mid-air, and one of them smashed into a house. The military confirmed the crash but had no immediate word on casualties or the cause.

From Washington, the White House welcomed the new plan in a statement, calling it "an important step toward realizing the vision of Iraq as a democratic, pluralistic country at peace with its neighbors."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=716&e=1&u=/ap/20031115/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

*** Edited by Admin. Please do not post full-length copyrighted articles ***

[Capt_Nemo]

1. Iraq to End US Administration by November

Now that would be a headline!

[Blue-Jay]

2. That's partially why I posted this.

Nice work on the timing, eh?

[Capt_Nemo]

3. It is almost as ironic as the "Iraq - Military Train Derails" one...

[VolcanoJen]

4. Dupe.. locking.

Please continue discussion in the earliest LBN thread on this topic, which can be found here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=220624&mesg_id=220624

Blue-Jay, it would be helpful if you could post your link within the original thread as an "update."

Thanks!
VolcanoJen
DU Moderator