U.S. Troops Begin Shift to Baghdad's Outskirts

[Barrett808]

U.S. Troops Begin Shift to Baghdad's Outskirts
By C. Bryson Hull

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. forces in Iraq (news - web sites) began scaling down their presence inside Baghdad with the arrival of fresh troops who are mostly moving into bases on the city's outskirts, a top U.S. commander said Monday.

Brigadier General Mark Hertling, assistant commander of the departing 1st Armored Division said the arriving 1st Cavalry Division is moving into eight bases around Baghdad, with one in the center. It is a contrast to the 26 bases in the city now and down from as many as 60 last summer just after the Iraq war.

The United States has said it is shifting its troop presence to Baghdad's perimeter to ease newly trained Iraqi police officers and Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers into their eventual role as the capital's guardians.

"This is in conjunction with the stand-up of the ICDC and an improvements in the number of Iraqi police available in Baghdad," Hertling told reporters, but added there was no firm deadline for a complete turnover of Baghdad security to Iraqis.

"If you're asking me for a set date, there is none," he said. "Some of the regions within Baghdad will go faster than others."

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&ncid=564&e=6&u=/nm/20040209/ts_nm/iraq_usa_army_dc_1

[Beetwasher]

1. So Baghdad is Going to Become

One big hornets nest of unnopposed and uninvestigated resistance activity.

[Alpharetta]

2. it might work

I am happy for our troops if the outskirt bases are more easily protected than city bases.

It seems like a good thing to try. Violence against Iraqi police might end up a political negative for its sponsors and sway public opinion against the various perpetrators.

I'm not optimistic, though. Iraqi police kicking down doors on behalf of American sponsors? That's not a positive image for the occupation.

This all is just maneuvering until the already-doomed attempt at elections. There is ZERO CHANCE the elections will proceed without catastrophic violence at polling places. Then the civil war kicks into high gear.

(in my opinion)

[Warren Stuart]

3. Advance to the Rear!

If we are going to turn tail and run, at least do it right.

Bring 'em home!

[NNN0LHI]

4. At least we are keeping the oil wells and pipelines safe

Thats why Bush went there anyway.

Don