Reply #8: Commanders plan for Iraq presence through 2009

[rodeodance]

Source: Reuters)



Commanders plan for Iraq presence through 2009

By Kristin Roberts 1 hour, 27 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The senior U.S. commander in Iraq is preparing a plan for military operations that sets summer 2009 as the goal for achieving a sustainable level of security throughout the country, his spokesman said on Tuesday.
ADVERTISEMENT

The draft, developed by Gen. David Petraeus' staff, lays out a series of security-related goals over two years, envisioning U.S. troops in the war zone through 2009.

The plan, first reported by The New York Times, comes as Democrats in the U.S. Congress press for a strategy change that leads to withdrawal.

The Bush administration, however, has called for more time to establish security in Iraq so that Iraqi politicians can make progress on benchmarks seen by Washington as critical to long-term stability.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070724/ts_nm/iraq_usa_pentagon_dc;_ylt=AkdZaj1TJTvxFy4YS57TRDis0NUE