American troops' role in Iraq: ; still crucial, U.S. general says

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq - The top U.S. commander in Iraq said Tuesdayan American role over the next 2 1/2 years is crucial to ensuringlegitimate national elections and helping Iraq become a long-termU.S. partner in the Middle East.

Gen. Ray Odierno disputed a colonel's call for the military todeclare victory and leave ahead of schedule, telling The AssociatedPress that the American presence is needed even though security isbetter than expected a month after Iraqi forces assumedresponsibility for protecting cities.

"Our goal here given us by the president is a secure, stablesovereign self-reliant Iraq. We're not there yet," he said in a wide-ranging interview after meeting with Iraqi officials at a U.S. baseoutside the Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi.

Odierno argued that U.S. troops should stay mainly to train andadvise Iraqis to avoid a resurgence of major violence that wouldsquander more than six years of enormous U.S. sacrifices. Hecautioned that many obstacles remain, particularly Kurdish-Arabtensions that could stoke violence in northern Iraq.

His remarks came five days after the circulation of acontroversial memo prepared by Col. Timothy R. Reese, a U.S. Armyadviser to the Iraqi military in Baghdad. Reese argued that theAmerican effort to train, equip and advise Iraqi security forces hasreached a point of rapidly diminishing returns and the U.S. shouldgo home next summer, 16 months ahead of schedule.

The memo was intended for limited distribution among U.S.officers in Baghdad but ended up being circulated on the Internetlast Thursday. It reflected the frustration of many Americansoldiers who feel they have done as much as they can after more thansix years of warfare that has left at least 4,331 service membersdead.

Iraq has seen relatively little violence following the June 30deadline for Americans to pull back from urban areas to rural bases,although there have been periods of intense bombings.

"Overall it's gone very, very well," Odierno acknowledged.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last month that a combatbrigade of 5,000 American troops may be brought home early from Iraqif the trend of reduced violence holds.

But the Obama administration and top Pentagon officials are leeryof a premature withdrawal - as much as they are eager to end the warin Iraq and shift more effort and resources to Afghanistan.

The current timeline calls for American combat troops to withdrawby August 2010, leaving behind a residual force of 35,000-50,000troops to train and advise the Iraqi security forces until a finalpullout by the end of 2011.

There are now about 130,000 U.S. forces in Iraq.

The Americans have pinned their hopes on national parliamentaryelections scheduled for January to give the national reconciliationprocess a jump-start by empowering disaffected groups.

Odierno said the Americans can play an important role inmaintaining calm as political tensions rise ahead of the vote.

"What we have to be able to do is to make sure that we reducetensions so that they can solve this politically," he said. "It'simportant that we're here to make sure that we have legitimate,credible parliamentary elections."

He also emphasized the importance of a stable Iraq for the restof the Middle East.

"We want to continue to build the institutional capacity of Iraqto move it towards a stable country and we want to make them a long-term partner that would help us to, in my mind, help overall withthe security situation in the Middle East. That's what our goalsare," Odierno said.

American troops' role in Iraq: ; still crucial, U.S. general says

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq - The top U.S. commander in Iraq said Tuesdayan American role over the next 2 1/2 years is crucial to ensuringlegitimate national elections and helping Iraq become a long-termU.S. partner in the Middle East.

Gen. Ray Odierno disputed a colonel's call for the military todeclare victory and leave ahead of schedule, telling The AssociatedPress that the American presence is needed even though security isbetter than expected a month after Iraqi forces assumedresponsibility for protecting cities.

"Our goal here given us by the president is a secure, stablesovereign self-reliant Iraq. We're not there yet," he said in a wide-ranging interview after meeting with Iraqi officials at a U.S. baseoutside the Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi.

Odierno argued that U.S. troops should stay mainly to train andadvise Iraqis to avoid a resurgence of major violence that wouldsquander more than six years of enormous U.S. sacrifices. Hecautioned that many obstacles remain, particularly Kurdish-Arabtensions that could stoke violence in northern Iraq.

His remarks came five days after the circulation of acontroversial memo prepared by Col. Timothy R. Reese, a U.S. Armyadviser to the Iraqi military in Baghdad. Reese argued that theAmerican effort to train, equip and advise Iraqi security forces hasreached a point of rapidly diminishing returns and the U.S. shouldgo home next summer, 16 months ahead of schedule.

The memo was intended for limited distribution among U.S.officers in Baghdad but ended up being circulated on the Internetlast Thursday. It reflected the frustration of many Americansoldiers who feel they have done as much as they can after more thansix years of warfare that has left at least 4,331 service membersdead.

Iraq has seen relatively little violence following the June 30deadline for Americans to pull back from urban areas to rural bases,although there have been periods of intense bombings.

"Overall it's gone very, very well," Odierno acknowledged.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last month that a combatbrigade of 5,000 American troops may be brought home early from Iraqif the trend of reduced violence holds.

But the Obama administration and top Pentagon officials are leeryof a premature withdrawal - as much as they are eager to end the warin Iraq and shift more effort and resources to Afghanistan.

The current timeline calls for American combat troops to withdrawby August 2010, leaving behind a residual force of 35,000-50,000troops to train and advise the Iraqi security forces until a finalpullout by the end of 2011.

There are now about 130,000 U.S. forces in Iraq.

The Americans have pinned their hopes on national parliamentaryelections scheduled for January to give the national reconciliationprocess a jump-start by empowering disaffected groups.

Odierno said the Americans can play an important role inmaintaining calm as political tensions rise ahead of the vote.

"What we have to be able to do is to make sure that we reducetensions so that they can solve this politically," he said. "It'simportant that we're here to make sure that we have legitimate,credible parliamentary elections."

He also emphasized the importance of a stable Iraq for the restof the Middle East.

"We want to continue to build the institutional capacity of Iraqto move it towards a stable country and we want to make them a long-term partner that would help us to, in my mind, help overall withthe security situation in the Middle East. That's what our goalsare," Odierno said.

American troops' role in Iraq: ; still crucial, U.S. general says

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq - The top U.S. commander in Iraq said Tuesdayan American role over the next 2 1/2 years is crucial to ensuringlegitimate national elections and helping Iraq become a long-termU.S. partner in the Middle East.

Gen. Ray Odierno disputed a colonel's call for the military todeclare victory and leave ahead of schedule, telling The AssociatedPress that the American presence is needed even though security isbetter than expected a month after Iraqi forces assumedresponsibility for protecting cities.

"Our goal here given us by the president is a secure, stablesovereign self-reliant Iraq. We're not there yet," he said in a wide-ranging interview after meeting with Iraqi officials at a U.S. baseoutside the Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi.

Odierno argued that U.S. troops should stay mainly to train andadvise Iraqis to avoid a resurgence of major violence that wouldsquander more than six years of enormous U.S. sacrifices. Hecautioned that many obstacles remain, particularly Kurdish-Arabtensions that could stoke violence in northern Iraq.

His remarks came five days after the circulation of acontroversial memo prepared by Col. Timothy R. Reese, a U.S. Armyadviser to the Iraqi military in Baghdad. Reese argued that theAmerican effort to train, equip and advise Iraqi security forces hasreached a point of rapidly diminishing returns and the U.S. shouldgo home next summer, 16 months ahead of schedule.

The memo was intended for limited distribution among U.S.officers in Baghdad but ended up being circulated on the Internetlast Thursday. It reflected the frustration of many Americansoldiers who feel they have done as much as they can after more thansix years of warfare that has left at least 4,331 service membersdead.

Iraq has seen relatively little violence following the June 30deadline for Americans to pull back from urban areas to rural bases,although there have been periods of intense bombings.

"Overall it's gone very, very well," Odierno acknowledged.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last month that a combatbrigade of 5,000 American troops may be brought home early from Iraqif the trend of reduced violence holds.

But the Obama administration and top Pentagon officials are leeryof a premature withdrawal - as much as they are eager to end the warin Iraq and shift more effort and resources to Afghanistan.

The current timeline calls for American combat troops to withdrawby August 2010, leaving behind a residual force of 35,000-50,000troops to train and advise the Iraqi security forces until a finalpullout by the end of 2011.

There are now about 130,000 U.S. forces in Iraq.

The Americans have pinned their hopes on national parliamentaryelections scheduled for January to give the national reconciliationprocess a jump-start by empowering disaffected groups.

Odierno said the Americans can play an important role inmaintaining calm as political tensions rise ahead of the vote.

"What we have to be able to do is to make sure that we reducetensions so that they can solve this politically," he said. "It'simportant that we're here to make sure that we have legitimate,credible parliamentary elections."

He also emphasized the importance of a stable Iraq for the restof the Middle East.

"We want to continue to build the institutional capacity of Iraqto move it towards a stable country and we want to make them a long-term partner that would help us to, in my mind, help overall withthe security situation in the Middle East. That's what our goalsare," Odierno said.

American troops' role in Iraq: ; still crucial, U.S. general says

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq - The top U.S. commander in Iraq said Tuesdayan American role over the next 2 1/2 years is crucial to ensuringlegitimate national elections and helping Iraq become a long-termU.S. partner in the Middle East.

Gen. Ray Odierno disputed a colonel's call for the military todeclare victory and leave ahead of schedule, telling The AssociatedPress that the American presence is needed even though security isbetter than expected a month after Iraqi forces assumedresponsibility for protecting cities.

"Our goal here given us by the president is a secure, stablesovereign self-reliant Iraq. We're not there yet," he said in a wide-ranging interview after meeting with Iraqi officials at a U.S. baseoutside the Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi.

Odierno argued that U.S. troops should stay mainly to train andadvise Iraqis to avoid a resurgence of major violence that wouldsquander more than six years of enormous U.S. sacrifices. Hecautioned that many obstacles remain, particularly Kurdish-Arabtensions that could stoke violence in northern Iraq.

His remarks came five days after the circulation of acontroversial memo prepared by Col. Timothy R. Reese, a U.S. Armyadviser to the Iraqi military in Baghdad. Reese argued that theAmerican effort to train, equip and advise Iraqi security forces hasreached a point of rapidly diminishing returns and the U.S. shouldgo home next summer, 16 months ahead of schedule.

The memo was intended for limited distribution among U.S.officers in Baghdad but ended up being circulated on the Internetlast Thursday. It reflected the frustration of many Americansoldiers who feel they have done as much as they can after more thansix years of warfare that has left at least 4,331 service membersdead.

Iraq has seen relatively little violence following the June 30deadline for Americans to pull back from urban areas to rural bases,although there have been periods of intense bombings.

"Overall it's gone very, very well," Odierno acknowledged.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last month that a combatbrigade of 5,000 American troops may be brought home early from Iraqif the trend of reduced violence holds.

But the Obama administration and top Pentagon officials are leeryof a premature withdrawal - as much as they are eager to end the warin Iraq and shift more effort and resources to Afghanistan.

The current timeline calls for American combat troops to withdrawby August 2010, leaving behind a residual force of 35,000-50,000troops to train and advise the Iraqi security forces until a finalpullout by the end of 2011.

There are now about 130,000 U.S. forces in Iraq.

The Americans have pinned their hopes on national parliamentaryelections scheduled for January to give the national reconciliationprocess a jump-start by empowering disaffected groups.

Odierno said the Americans can play an important role inmaintaining calm as political tensions rise ahead of the vote.

"What we have to be able to do is to make sure that we reducetensions so that they can solve this politically," he said. "It'simportant that we're here to make sure that we have legitimate,credible parliamentary elections."

He also emphasized the importance of a stable Iraq for the restof the Middle East.

"We want to continue to build the institutional capacity of Iraqto move it towards a stable country and we want to make them a long-term partner that would help us to, in my mind, help overall withthe security situation in the Middle East. That's what our goalsare," Odierno said.

American troops' role in Iraq: ; still crucial, U.S. general says

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq - The top U.S. commander in Iraq said Tuesdayan American role over the next 2 1/2 years is crucial to ensuringlegitimate national elections and helping Iraq become a long-termU.S. partner in the Middle East.

Gen. Ray Odierno disputed a colonel's call for the military todeclare victory and leave ahead of schedule, telling The AssociatedPress that the American presence is needed even though security isbetter than expected a month after Iraqi forces assumedresponsibility for protecting cities.

"Our goal here given us by the president is a secure, stablesovereign self-reliant Iraq. We're not there yet," he said in a wide-ranging interview after meeting with Iraqi officials at a U.S. baseoutside the Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi.

Odierno argued that U.S. troops should stay mainly to train andadvise Iraqis to avoid a resurgence of major violence that wouldsquander more than six years of enormous U.S. sacrifices. Hecautioned that many obstacles remain, particularly Kurdish-Arabtensions that could stoke violence in northern Iraq.

His remarks came five days after the circulation of acontroversial memo prepared by Col. Timothy R. Reese, a U.S. Armyadviser to the Iraqi military in Baghdad. Reese argued that theAmerican effort to train, equip and advise Iraqi security forces hasreached a point of rapidly diminishing returns and the U.S. shouldgo home next summer, 16 months ahead of schedule.

The memo was intended for limited distribution among U.S.officers in Baghdad but ended up being circulated on the Internetlast Thursday. It reflected the frustration of many Americansoldiers who feel they have done as much as they can after more thansix years of warfare that has left at least 4,331 service membersdead.

Iraq has seen relatively little violence following the June 30deadline for Americans to pull back from urban areas to rural bases,although there have been periods of intense bombings.

"Overall it's gone very, very well," Odierno acknowledged.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last month that a combatbrigade of 5,000 American troops may be brought home early from Iraqif the trend of reduced violence holds.

But the Obama administration and top Pentagon officials are leeryof a premature withdrawal - as much as they are eager to end the warin Iraq and shift more effort and resources to Afghanistan.

The current timeline calls for American combat troops to withdrawby August 2010, leaving behind a residual force of 35,000-50,000troops to train and advise the Iraqi security forces until a finalpullout by the end of 2011.

There are now about 130,000 U.S. forces in Iraq.

The Americans have pinned their hopes on national parliamentaryelections scheduled for January to give the national reconciliationprocess a jump-start by empowering disaffected groups.

Odierno said the Americans can play an important role inmaintaining calm as political tensions rise ahead of the vote.

"What we have to be able to do is to make sure that we reducetensions so that they can solve this politically," he said. "It'simportant that we're here to make sure that we have legitimate,credible parliamentary elections."

He also emphasized the importance of a stable Iraq for the restof the Middle East.

"We want to continue to build the institutional capacity of Iraqto move it towards a stable country and we want to make them a long-term partner that would help us to, in my mind, help overall withthe security situation in the Middle East. That's what our goalsare," Odierno said.