This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7914061.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Obama to reveal Iraq pullout plan | Obama to reveal Iraq pullout plan |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| President Barack Obama is due to announce the withdrawal of most US troops in Iraq by August 2010. | President Barack Obama is due to announce the withdrawal of most US troops in Iraq by August 2010. |
| In a speech later, he is expected to confirm that the US "combat mission" in Iraq will officially end by that time. | In a speech later, he is expected to confirm that the US "combat mission" in Iraq will officially end by that time. |
| He is also expected to say that up to 50,000 of the 142,000 troops will stay in Iraq after that date to advise Iraqi forces and protect American interests. | He is also expected to say that up to 50,000 of the 142,000 troops will stay in Iraq after that date to advise Iraqi forces and protect American interests. |
| Some Democrats are concerned that the timetable may fall short of his election vow to withdraw troops. | Some Democrats are concerned that the timetable may fall short of his election vow to withdraw troops. |
| Mr Obama had said previously that he would completely pull out troops within 16 months of taking the top job. | Mr Obama had said previously that he would completely pull out 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". |
| Middle way | Middle way |
| Mr Obama is expected to make his announcement in Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. | |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| A senior administration official told reporters that Mr Obama will announce that "our combat mission will end on 31 August, 2010". | A senior administration official told reporters that Mr Obama will announce that "our combat mission will end on 31 August, 2010". |
| "At that point, the US forces remaining in Iraq will undertake a new mission, a more limited mission," he said on condition of anonymity. | "At that point, the US forces remaining in Iraq will undertake a new mission, a more limited mission," he said on condition of anonymity. |
| The force, sized "at around 35-50,000" soldiers, will train, equip and advise Iraqi troops, protect US civilian and military interests and conduct "targeted counter-terrorism operations". | The force, sized "at around 35-50,000" soldiers, will train, equip and advise Iraqi troops, protect US civilian and military interests and conduct "targeted counter-terrorism operations". |
| The official said the aim is to have "zero" US troops in Iraq by the end of 2011, in line with an agreement signed between the two countries last year. | The official said the aim is to have "zero" US troops in Iraq by the end of 2011, in line with an agreement signed between the two countries last year. |
| The plan is a middle way between the speedy reduction Mr Obama envisaged during his election campaign and the slower one some military leaders may prefer, BBC North America editor Justin Webb says. | The plan is a middle way between the speedy reduction Mr Obama 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 should quicken with the total force down to 50,000 by the summer of 2010, our correspondent 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 correspondent says. |
| UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who has been visiting Iraq, said he had found a "real yearning... for Iraqis to run their own affairs, to make their own mistakes but also to make their own progress". | UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who has been visiting Iraq, said he had found a "real yearning... for Iraqis to run their own affairs, to make their own mistakes but also to make their own progress". |
| "However, it's clear that there is massive training function to be done on the security side, that's what Americans are going to focus on after the middle of next year," he told the BBC's Today programme. | "However, it's clear that there is massive training function to be done on the security side, that's what Americans are going to focus on after the middle of next year," he told the BBC's Today programme. |
| The UK is due to end its own military operations in Iraq by 31 May, with only a few hundred troops set to remain for training purposes. | The UK is due to end its own military operations in Iraq by 31 May, with only a few hundred troops set to remain for training purposes. |
| 'Too many' | 'Too many' |
| Democrats have expressed concern that the troop withdrawal is being watered down. | Democrats have expressed concern that the troop withdrawal is being watered down. |
| Obama setting out his plans for Iraq during his campaign in July 2008 | Obama setting out his plans for Iraq during his campaign in July 2008 |
| Speaking before Mr Obama briefed Congressional leaders about the plan on Thursday, Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi said 50,000 troops seemed too many for a residual force and needed to be justified. | Speaking before Mr Obama briefed Congressional leaders about the plan on Thursday, Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi said 50,000 troops seemed too many for a residual force and needed to be justified. |
| However, other sceptics have expressed concern that a fast withdrawal could reverse the dramatic but fragile gains in security in Iraq. | However, other sceptics have expressed concern that a fast withdrawal could reverse the dramatic but fragile gains in security in Iraq. |
| 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. | 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. |