Iraq Troop Withdrawal, Wars | featured news

The top U.S. commander in Iraq says the timetable for an American troop withdrawal is still on track despite a dispute ...

There are just a few days left before U.S. Army Capt. Nathan Williams finally gets to go home. As violence in Iraq is sharply down and Iraqi forces are taking more responsibilities, the United States is preparing for the withdrawal of all combat forces by August 2010 and everyone else by 2012. That means in the coming days and months, tens of thousands of soldiers will be making the same journey as Williams and his troops, from Iraq to Kuwait and finally to the U.S. — the long journey home.

Iraq's Cabinet has signed off on a $67 billion draft budget for 2010 that is well below what officials have said is needed, raising concerns that the shortfall will derail the progress of Iraqi security forces just they are taking over from withdrawing American troops.

President Obama's planned announcement Friday to remove most U.S. combat troops from Iraq by August 2010 will free up more forces for the worsening fight in Afghanistan and help the Army end a policy that holds soldiers past enlistment periods, military officials and experts say.

Pentagon officials say they are readying plans for a pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq, including a move to do it within the 16-month time frame promised by President-elect Barack Obama.