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Obama to reveal Iraq pullout plan Obama to reveal Iraq pullout plan
(20 minutes 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 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.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 within 16 months of 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 announcementMr 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 may prefer, 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 should 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 troop withdrawal may 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. Speaking before Mr Obama briefed Congressional leaders on Thursday, Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi said 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, the top Republican on the House armed services committee, said after the briefing that Mr Obama had promised the pullout strategy would be revisited if violence in Iraq increased.