Iraq Troop Withdrawal Announcement Near

Officials: Most troops out of Iraq in 18 months.

By: Associated Press | WSAV-TV
Published: February 25, 2009

» Comments | Post a Comment

WASHINGTON (AP) - Administration officials say President Barack Obama plans to order that all U.S. combat troops be withdrawn from Iraq by August 2010.

That would be three months later than he had promised during the campaign, although his pledge was contingent on security concerns.

The plan the president has settled on calls for leaving as many as 50,000 troops behind to advise and train Iraqi security forces and to protect U.S. interests.

Officials say the contingent remaining in Iraq will include intelligence and surveillance specialists and their equipment, including unmanned aircraft.

A senior White House official says Obama is at least a day away from making a final decision and that an announcement is not likely Wednesday. The official does say that the president could discuss Iraq Friday during a trip to North Carolina.