Obama vows most troops to leave Iraq by next year
Over 90,000 to pull out but president criticised for keeping 50,000 force
US President Barack Obama (C), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen (L) and Defense Secretary Robert Gates make their way to board Air Force One February 27, 2009 at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station in North Carolina. Obama is returing to Washington after a visit to Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base where he spoke about Iraq (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
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Saturday February 28 2009
President Obama announced the withdrawal of over 90,000 US combat troops from Iraq by August of next year yesterday.
However, his decision to keep a force of up to 50,000 was attacked by leaders of his own party as a betrayal of his promise to end the war.
Mr Obama's steady drawdown plan was even embraced by Republicans -- including John McCain, his election opponent last year -- but was sharply criticised by anti-war liberals.
It was the latest of several moves by the president that has disappointed the Left, who had convinced themselves that he would end the US presence in Iraq at a stroke.
In a far-reaching speech to marines at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, which addressed American diplomacy in the wider Middle East and the future of Iraq, Mr Obama said: "Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end."
Pentagon officials said Mr Obama had decided to pull out at least 92,000 combat forces from the 142,000 troops now there. Yet he announced, as he had promised on the campaign trail, a "transitional force" to train Iraqi troops, protect civilians and hunt down al-Qa'ida.
It was the size of that force -- between 35,000 and 50,000 -- that dismayed many Democrats.
Higher
Nancy Pelosi, the House Speaker, was clearly upset, saying she could not understand "the justification" for 50,000 troops.
Harry Reid, the Democratic Senate Leader, said it was "a little higher number than I anticipated". Charles Schumer, another leading Senate Democrat, also expressed displeasure.
The drawdown strategy has been agreed on by Robert Gates, the defence secretary, General David Petraeus, the Middle East commander who oversaw the surge, and General Ray Odierno , the Iraq ground commander.
John McCain, who last year as a presidential candidate said Mr Obama would "rather lose a war than lose a campaign" said he supported the plan.
On the issue of Iraq, where the hard-fought gains have cost so many lives, Mr Obama would rather be accused of caution by his own party. The support from the Right gives him significant political cover as he seeks to end the war.
Acknowledging indirectly the success of the "surge" of additional troops ordered by George W Bush -- a policy he opposed -- Mr Obama told the marines: "Thanks in great measure to your service, the situation in Iraq has improved. Violence has been reduced substantially from the horrific sectarian killing of 2006 and 2007."
Not made explicit in the speech was the amount of flexibility Mr Obama is giving himself in the plan.
Mr Gates called the August 31 deadline next year a "way station", an indication that it could be shifted. Under an agreement between the US and Iraq, all US troops must be out of Iraq by the end of 2011. Yet Mr Gates also indicated that a new agreement with the Iraqis was not out of the question.
- Tim Reid in Washington
