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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Obama to reveal Iraq pullout plan | Obama to reveal Iraq pullout plan |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| President Barack Obama is expected to announce his plan to withdraw most of the US troops from Iraq by August 2010. | President Barack Obama is expected to announce his plan to withdraw most of the US troops from Iraq by August 2010. |
| The move is said to envisage reducing troop levels from the current 142,000 to some 50,000 by that time. | The move is said to envisage reducing troop levels from the current 142,000 to some 50,000 by that time. |
| Mr Obama is reported to have told members of Congress that that number is needed to stay to advise Iraqi forces and protect American interests. | |
| During his election campaign he vowed to pull out US troops from Iraq within 16 months after taking the top job. | During his election campaign he vowed to pull out US troops from Iraq within 16 months after taking the top job. |
| Earlier this month, he ordered the deployment of up to 17,000 extra US troops to Afghanistan. | Earlier this month, he ordered the deployment of up to 17,000 extra US troops to Afghanistan. |
| The president said the soldiers had been due to go to Iraq but were being redirected to "meet urgent security needs". | The president said the soldiers had been due to go to Iraq but were being redirected to "meet urgent security needs". |
| 'Too many' | 'Too many' |
| Mr Obama is expected to make his announcement in Camp Lejuene in North Carolina. | Mr Obama is expected to make his announcement in Camp Lejuene in North Carolina. |
| Mr Obama briefed Republicans and Democrats before the announcement | Mr Obama briefed Republicans and Democrats before the announcement |
| The plan is a middle way between the speedy reduction he envisaged during his election campaign and the slower one some military leaders might prefer, the BBC North America editor Justin Webb says. | The plan is a middle way between the speedy reduction he envisaged during his election campaign and the slower one some military leaders might prefer, the BBC North America editor Justin Webb says. |
| President Obama wants only two combat brigades to leave this year - but after December elections in Iraq the pace would quicken with the total force down to 50,000 by the summer of 2010, our editor says. | President Obama wants only two combat brigades to leave this year - but after December elections in Iraq the pace would quicken with the total force down to 50,000 by the summer of 2010, our editor says. |
| Already some Democrats are expressing concern that the troops withdrawal have been watered down. | Already some Democrats are expressing concern that the troops withdrawal have been watered down. |
| Before Thursday's briefing by Mr Obama, Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that 50,000 troops seemed too many for a residual force and needed to be justified. | Before Thursday's briefing by Mr Obama, Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that 50,000 troops seemed too many for a residual force and needed to be justified. |
| John McHugh, who also attended the briefing, said Mr Obama had promised that the pullout strategy would be revisited if violence in Iraq increased. | John McHugh, who also attended the briefing, said Mr Obama had promised that the pullout strategy would be revisited if violence in Iraq increased. |