Although U.S. commanders are cautious about predicting further withdrawals,
\ninterviews with military experts and recent official statements
\nindicate growing optimism about the potential to pull out more forces.<\/p>\n
“I believe the momentum we have is not reversible,” said Jack Keane, a
\nretired Army vice chief of staff who helped develop the Iraq strategy
\nadopted by President Bush in January 2007.<\/p>\n
There will be “significant reductions in 2009 whoever becomes president,” said Keane,
\nwho regularly consults with Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander
\nin Iraq.<\/p>\n
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki echoed Keane’s optimism Saturday by declaring that “we defeated” the terrorists in<\/p>\n
Iraq. U.S. commanders remain cautious.<\/p>\n
Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin, the No. 2 commander in Iraq, said recently that “our progress is fragile, and we continue to
\nwork to make this progress irreversible.”<\/p>\n
Such encouraging reports could benefit both presidential candidates. Republican John
\nMcCain has been a major supporter of Bush’s escalation of U.S. forces
\nin Iraq. Democratic candidate Barack Obama said he wants to withdraw
\nall U.S. troops from Iraq in 16 months, although he said any pullout
\nwould be determined by conditions there.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Of course, when Obama speaks of “conditions” in Iraq, he does not mean using them to determine the timing <\/em>of a pullout, but merely the manner<\/em> of it. He has “clarified” that the “conditions” phrase just has to do with how to get troops out of Iraq “safely”, not whether the situation in Iraq will remain relatively stable after the pullout.<\/p>\n