InfoAnda - US troops say Iraqis ready for Obama timetable

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Fox leaves "American Idol" guessing game wide open | 3 August 2010
U.S. crafting framework for cyber offense: general | | 19 October 2011
White House Press Secretary Gibbs Discusses Sotomayor, North Korea During Press Conference | 28 May 2009

Former Sen. Norm Coleman Won't Run For Minnesota Governor | 19 January 2010

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : US troops say Iraqis ready for Obama timetable

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Search Search: US troops say Iraqis ready for Obama timetable By LARA JAKES,Associated Press Writer AP - Saturday, February 28 CAMP SPEICHER, Iraq - At a sandstorm-battered base near Saddam Hussein's hometown, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Siwatu Spikes agrees it's nearly about time for combat troops to leave Iraq. ADVERTISEMENT He hopes the Iraqis are ready for it. It was dinnertime at the sprawling Camp Speicher in north-central Iraq, and Spikes was in the chow hall, glued to one of several wide-screens TVs showing President Barack Obama outlining his plan for withdrawing combat troops by Aug. 31, 2010. "I like his approach to it because I think we need to start turning over the country to the Iraqis," said Spikes, a 33-year-old Hawaiian serving his third tour here in nearly six years. "I would like to think they are ready. I think we have done a good job training them. Now they need to apply it and sustain it." "I think they will be OK," he said. Many U.S. soldiers at the base appeared to echo Obama's message: America's time in Iraq is drawing to a close and Iraqi troops and leaders need to prepare themselves to take charge of their own destiny. As many as 50,000 noncombat troops will remain in Iraq beyond the August 2010 deadline to advise, train and provide counterterrorism support with all American forces gone by the end of 2011. Obama's withdrawal schedule, outlined in front of Marines at Camp Lejeune, N.C., suggests that the bulk of the current U.S. military presence in Iraq of about 138,000 troops will remain for the country's nationwide elections expected later this year. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has said he welcomes the withdrawal and urges that it be done "orderly and responsibly." Obama called al-Maliki with the details of the plan before delivering his speech, White House officials said. Sunni lawmaker Mustafa al-Hiti also applauded Obama's plan, saying it met "the aspirations of many Iraqis who want to see the occupying troops out of their country." "We have enough confidence in our security forces and we think that there is no chance for a new round of violence in Iraq," he said. Other Iraqis, however, said they feared the absence of U.S. combat troops could spur violence anew if Iraqi security forces aren't fully prepared. "Before leaving Iraq, the U.S. Army should do their best to train and equip the Iraqis so that we can confront the dangers that are threatening the country," said Raji Abbas, a Shiite from the southern city of Najaf, where U.S. forces battled militias in 2004. At Camp Speicher, Army Col. Walter E. Piatt predicted that security forces in at least one province _ Salahuddin in north-central Iraq _ will be ready. Piatt, commander of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, wants to hand over control for all combat operations in the province of 1.1 million people by this summer. Iraqis have an estimated 16,000 Army soldiers and 16,000 police officers in the province, said Piatt's spokeswoman, Maj. Cathy Wilkinson. "It's not the deadline in my mind _ they're ready," Piatt told The Associated Press. "The conditions here are ready for us to go to an advisory role. That advisory capacity, as long as it is needed, I strongly feel we should keep it. Because it is what the Iraqis will need." An estimated 6,000 U.S. troops are based at Camp Speicher, about 85 miles north of Baghdad and near Saddam's hometown of Tikrit. At the chow hall Friday night, a layer of dust settled over diners and tables alike from one of the worst sandstorms in months raging outside. The cavernous dining hall's walls were covered with college team banners, and flags of U.S. states hung from the ceiling. Cameras and other personal electronic devices are not allowed inside the mess hall. Before Obama's speech, the military had denied media requests for interviews with U.S. troops about the withdrawal timetable. A handful of soldiers seemed more interested in a showing of "The Bourne Identity" at the front of the room rather than in Obama's speech. Not so Staff Sgt. Michael Rosas, 29, from Los Angeles, who worried that Obama's timetable would require troops newly arrived in Iraq for their one-year deployment to stay longer. "I wonder if we're going to be extended," said Rosas, also out of the Hawaii infantry unit and on his second Iraq tour. "It would be kind of stupid to send a whole new combat force to replace us. It would be a hardship, but it's a hardship of war. It's part of what we signed up for." Wilkinson, the brigade's spokeswoman, said "there's been absolutely no indication that would happen." And most troops are eager to go. Several noted the renewed U.S. military focus in Afghanistan, where Obama just ordered deployments of 17,000 troops by this summer to add to the 38,000 already there. And while threats remain _ and are unpredictable _ security seems to have largely stabilized in much of Iraq. "We don't need to be here," said Sgt. Jimmy Johnson, 40, from Radcliff, Ky. He deployed from Fort Benning, Ga., and is in his second tour since 2006. "The job is done. Let soldiers go home. Let soldiers be with their families, loved ones." Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Urbik, 42, of Sacramento, Calif., said the security mission will "evolve with the Iraqis." "I have every faith we wouldn't leave if they weren't ready," said Urbik, out of Fort Hood. ___ Associated Press Writer Sameer N. Yacoub in Baghdad contributed to this report. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article Average (0 votes) Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: World US will not take part in UN racism conference: officialsAFP - 2 hours 3 minutes ago Activists warn US lawmakers of uranium mining perilsAFP - 2 hours 23 minutes ago Argentine farmers wary over reported grain measureAP - 2 hours 41 minutes ago Today in History - Feb. 28AP - 2 hours 44 minutes ago French film honors Hoffman, PennAP - Saturday, February 28 Most Popular – World Viewed RBS posts record British loss, offloads toxic assets Obama drives reform with 3.55-trillion-dollar budget Supermodel Bundchen ties knot with football star Brady Citigroup, US Treasury reach deal on government stake Japan faces deepening recession View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Saturday, 28 February 2009
Fidel Castro walks in Havana streets, Chavez says | International |
U.S. says Mexico makes progress against drug cartels | International |
Afghan FM urges U.S. to engage with Iran on conflict | International |
Karadzic to make plea after prosecutors file indictment | International |
Hariri to shun unity Lebanon govt if Hezbollah wins poll | International |
Russia blames OSCE for not preventing Georgia war | International |
Obama In Favor Of Giving Marijuana Jurisdiction To States
Wells Fargo Suspends Executive Bonuses On Weak 2008 Performance
Update: Obama Says U.S. Combat Mission In Iraq Ends August 2010
Curious Octopus Opens Control Valve, Floods Aquarium
Tennessee Convenience Store Manager Behind Bars After Officers Find Pot Farm In Office
ACLU Praises Senate Panel For 'Unprecedented Review' Of CIA Interrogation Program
Memphis Teen Sisters Fight Off Attacker; Man Jailed For Soliciting Rape, Aggravated Assault
Private Crichton College Bucks Trend Announces Tuition Decrease
Obama To Meet With Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd About Afghanistan, Economy
Sears To Close 24 More Stores Following Drop In Q4 Earnings
Ed McMahon ill with pneumonia | Entertainment |
Jonas Bros. movie may foretell an end to innocence | Entertainment |
Leonardo Codex reveals youthful self-portrait | Entertainment |
Mugabe To Hold Lavish Party For 85th Birthday
Curious Octopus Opens Control Valve, Floods Aquarium
Greenpeace Urges U.S. To Shift To Recycled Material For Toilet Paper
Tennessee Convenience Store Manager Behind Bars After Officers Find Pot Farm In Office
Memphis Teen Sisters Fight Off Attacker; Man Jailed For Soliciting Rape, Aggravated Assault
Obama sets firm date to end Iraq war he inherited
Bangladesh army reaffirms support for government | International |
U.N. prosecutor pledges to pursue Hariri case to end
Jodie Foster Caught Speeding By Police And Reality TV Crew
Turkish pilots say turbulence likely reason for crash | International |
US troops say Iraqis ready for Obama timetable
Iraqi doctors treat the wounded in Jordan
Mexico's Pemex declares 7 bln dollar loss
FACT CHECK: Obama's changing Iraq timetable
Activists warn US lawmakers of uranium mining perils
U.S. citizen stabbed in Cairo tourist area | International |
Gates prefers small US force in Iraq after 2012
US government takes up 36 percent of Citi
U.N. prosecutor pledges to pursue Hariri case to end | International |
Netanyahu and Livni fail to agree on coalition
US economy shrinks stunning 6.2 percent
U.S. pairs B-2 bombers, F-22s in Guam for first time | International |
Supermodel Bundchen ties knot with football star Brady
Lebanon rejects freeing suspects in Hariri killing
Iraq appeals for foreign oil expertise
Hill to be new US ambassador in Iraq
Amazon to allow disabling of Kindle 2 audio | Technology |
Louisiana FEMA Chief Reassigned Amid Staff Complaints
US will not take part in UN racism conference: officials
No More Medical Marijuana Raids For DEA
Obama: U.S. Troops Won't Stay Long In Afghanistan
New US envoy to Iraq is shrewd, tackles thorniest issues
US-TECH Summary
Schwarzenegger Places Drought-Stricken California Under State Of Emergency
Obama pledges no long-term Afghan designs
Obama Fan Under Arrest For Mailing HIV-tainted Blood To President, Aide
Amazon to allow disabling of Kindle 2 audio
Obama says no 'long-term' Afghan presence
UPS CEO: Free Trade Is Bailout To Economic Crisis
Hearst plans electronic reader for magazines: report
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 588
Feb 27 Highlights Of Low Points In U.S. Economy
Yahoo paid $79 million to financial advisers
James Dobson Stepping Down As Focus On Family Chairman
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,252
Wall Street Slides On GDP Data, Citi Concerns
'Couldn't care less' about meeting Obama: Chavez
Brazil-based militant makes case against Italy extradition
Chavez clashes with US on human rights
Amsterdam air crash dead identified
Suspected al Qaeda operative charged in U.S. court
Rihanna and Chris Brown reported back together | Entertainment |
Jennifer Hudson calls music therapy after family deaths | Entertainment |
Lionel Richie still on the Go after 30 years | Entertainment |
Publishers dust off vintage songs for new audiences | Entertainment |
Singer Allison Iraheta a child of Idol | Entertainment |
China approves food safety law: state media
ASEAN to sign discounted oil deal: official
Malaysia reverses move to raise tolls amid protest
Sri Lanka troops enter last rebel stronghold: military
Tibetan monk reportedly sets self on fire, shot
Hollywood team in Iran on cultural exchange
China, US begin day two of military talks
Oscar-winner Penn hopes to take 'Milk' to White House
ASEAN plans early warning system
Micron makes offer to Taiwan's ailing DRAM
Banderas to join Freida Pinto in new Woody Allen pic
SEAsian human rights body lacks powers: draft
Pakistani cenbank sells 10 bln rupees of T-bills
Pakistan opposition chief warns of dangerous chaos
Thai Airways posts huge loss in 2008
ASEAN plans early warning system to avoid conflict
Nissan to cut costs by skipping some auto shows
Thai, Cambodian PMs meet as border tension eases
World-famous British restaurant shuts in poisoning scare
Sony centers power at top in Stringer
Bruce Willis being sued for $4 million
Chinese officials grapple with slowdown in south
France's Cesars hail "Seraphine" best film
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Publishers dust off vintage songs for new audiences
Source: Ed McMahon hospitalized with bone cancer
Rihanna and Chris Brown reported back together
Lionel Richie still on the "Go" after 30 years
Singer Allison Iraheta a child of "Idol"
Reports: Tom Brady, Gisele Bundchen married
No More Medical Marijuana Raids For DEA
U.K. Police Hunting 'Radioactive' Principal Wanted For Child Pornography
Obama Fan Under Arrest For Mailing HIV-tainted Blood To President, Aide
Workshop explosion injures 6 in Turkey
Pakistan says wins key region on Afghan border | International |
British-Tunisian journalist held in Sudan
Man held in Cairo stabbing had attacked before: agency | International |
Rocket fired from Gaza reportedly hits Israeli school
Volkswagen to cut all temporary staff
Consensus emerges in Congress for Obama Iraq plan
Mugabe says Zimbabwe land seizures will continue | International |
Pakistan in key victory over Taliban in Bajaur
Ban calls for closer Congo-U.N. collaboration | International |
Iraq's ailing farm sector more crucial than ever
Abbas, Hamas signal first dispute over unity talks | International |
ASEAN agrees measures to ease economic crisis: draft | International |
At least 37 still missing in Australia fires: army | International |
Japan foreign minister flies into Chinese storm | International |
U.N. urges Somalis overseas to back peace process | International |
American in Egypt attacked near bomb site
Drought Prompts Schwarzenegger To Declare State Of Emergency
Depeche Mode debuts season-pass model on iTunes | Technology |
Thailand's exiled ex-leader cancels Hong Kong talk
Pakistan general says Taliban 'lost' border region
Second mass grave found after Bangladesh revolt
Japan FM in China for talks
NKorea warns again of conflict on Korean peninsula
Japanese foreign minister in China for talks
US praises China anti-piracy role off Somalia
Malaysian police detain 17 ethnic Indian activists
10 more bodies found at Bangladesh mutiny site
Hong Kong actress enraged by leaked sex photos
Haring or not, huge painting on sale for 99 cents
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01