US Military to Withdraw 2,000 Soldiers from Iraq
The US military announced on the 6th March that 2,000 soldiers are to be pulled out of Iraq, within a wider reduction of the US armed forces presence there.
The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division formed part of the President Bush-ordered troop surge that arrived in Iraq last year.
Speaking to news agency Reuters, Lieutenant Colonel Steve Stover confirmed their departure.
"I can state that (they) are leaving”, he said, adding: “...there is no replacement brigade combat team coming in."
60% Reduction in Iraqi Violence Since US Troop Surge
In the time since the troop surge – totalling 30,000 soldiers – reached full deployment in Iraq, violence there has become 60 per cent less frequent. Such a marked drop led to General Patraeus’ announcement that five brigades would be withdrawn by July this year.
November 2007 saw the departure of the initial brigade to be pulled out of Iraq under Patraeus’ directive.
No replacement was sent to plug the gap left.
Withdrawals to Leave Approx. 130,000 US Soldiers in Iraq
At present, over 150,000 US soldiers serve in Iraq. Once the withdrawal programme is complete, this figure is expected to be closer to 130,000.
Speaking to Reuters, Stover cited operational reasons for not commenting on whether US troops or Iraqi security forces would take over the 2nd Brigade Combat Team’s work. However, he said, plans existed to pull another brigade from the country.
"Plans are fluid," he stated. "The (U.S. military's wish) is not to give back any part of the city that our soldiers have paid a high price for.
Both Patraeus and Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, have called for a pause in withdrawals after July.
Source – Armed Forces International’s US Correspondent
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