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Withdrawals continuing in Iraq, Afghanistan
Although it is occurring swiftly in Iraq and in measured fashion in Afghanistan, the withdrawal of U.S. forces is continuing.
The final chapter will unfold by Dec. 31 in Iraq. At the height of operations in 2007 and 2008, the U.S. had 165,000 service members in country at 505 bases. Today, according to Army Brig. Gen. Bradley Becker, deputy commanding general for U.S. Division Center in Baghdad, fewer than seven bases remain to be transferred to Iraqi authorities and U.S. troop totals have dwindled to less than 20,000.
Becker, quoted in a Pentagon news release, said he was confident Iraqi forces will be equal to the security challenges after U.S. forces depart.
“(They) have shown that they are capable,” he said. “They did it during the elections. They did it during the Arab Spring.”
Becker said one issue stands out in his mind after almost nine years of U.S. involvement in Iraq.
“We’ve given the Iraqi people opportunities that they didn’t have in the past: the opportunity to choose their own government, a developing economy that benefits all and, most importantly, an opportunity for a better future,” he pointed out.
In Afghanistan, Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, said Afghan national security forces have made dramatic improvement and will soon be assuming security responsibility for 50 percent of the Afghan population.
“Transition is on schedule and NATO will continue its efforts to ensure that the Afghans take security responsibility across the country by the end of 2014,” Simon Gass, NATO’s senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, is quoted in the same release.
Read more: The Warner Robins Patriot - Withdrawals continuing in Iraq Afghanistan
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Although it is occurring swiftly in Iraq and in measured fashion in Afghanistan, the withdrawal of U.S. forces is continuing.
The final chapter will unfold by Dec. 31 in Iraq. At the height of operations in 2007 and 2008, the U.S. had 165,000 service members in country at 505 bases. Today, according to Army Brig. Gen. Bradley Becker, deputy commanding general for U.S. Division Center in Baghdad, fewer than seven bases remain to be transferred to Iraqi authorities and U.S. troop totals have dwindled to less than 20,000.
Becker, quoted in a Pentagon news release, said he was confident Iraqi forces will be equal to the security challenges after U.S. forces depart.
“(They) have shown that they are capable,” he said. “They did it during the elections. They did it during the Arab Spring.”
Becker said one issue stands out in his mind after almost nine years of U.S. involvement in Iraq.
“We’ve given the Iraqi people opportunities that they didn’t have in the past: the opportunity to choose their own government, a developing economy that benefits all and, most importantly, an opportunity for a better future,” he pointed out.
In Afghanistan, Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, said Afghan national security forces have made dramatic improvement and will soon be assuming security responsibility for 50 percent of the Afghan population.
“Transition is on schedule and NATO will continue its efforts to ensure that the Afghans take security responsibility across the country by the end of 2014,” Simon Gass, NATO’s senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, is quoted in the same release.
Read more: The Warner Robins Patriot - Withdrawals continuing in Iraq Afghanistan
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
