U.S. sees Iraqis in control in Baghdad in a year, April 17, 2008
U.S. forces in Baghdad hope to turn over responsibility for security in most of the Iraqi capital to Iraqi forces in about a year, the chief of staff of the American military in the city said.The remarks by Colonel Allen Batschelet describe a smaller role for the U.S. military in Baghdad after the next U.S. president takes over from George W. Bush in January.
"We anticipate transitioning the majority of Baghdad city into a tactical overwatch by the time of our division’s departure in early spring (2009). We believe that is attainable," Batschelet wrote in an e-mail interview with Reuters.
Wait a second. Haven’t I read such before? Let’s see:
Iraq PM says security forces can take over from U.S., Jul 15, 2007
Iraq will be ready to take over security from U.S. forces "any time" they decide to withdraw, although its police and army still need more training, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said in remarks over the weekend
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"We say with full confidence we are able, God willing, to shoulder the complete responsibility in administering the security portfolio if the international forces withdrew, at any time they wish," he said.
PM Al-Maliki: Iraqi Forces Could Take Over Security in ’07, December 01, 2006
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Thursday he believed Iraqi forces would be ready by June 2007 to take full control of security in Iraq, an issue on which he pressed President Bush during their meeting in Amman, Jordan.
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"I can say that Iraqi forces will be ready, fully ready to receive this command and to command its own forces, and I can tell you that by next June our forces will be ready," al-Maliki said in an interview with ABC News.
Top U.S. general: Iraqis can take over security within 18 months, August 30, 2006
The top U.S. commander in Iraq expressed optimism Wednesday that Iraqi forces are making enough progress to provide their own security within 18 months.
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Gen. George Casey said Iraqi troops were on course to take over security control from U.S.-led coalition forces, a move that would bring the foreign forces a step closer to withdrawal from the country."I don’t have a date, but I can see over the next 12 to 18 months, the Iraqi security forces progressing to a point where they can take on the security responsibilities for the country, with very little coalition support," he said.
Iraq president upbeat on security, August 2, 2006
Iraqi forces will take over the security of the entire country from US-led forces by the end of the year, President Jalal Talabani says."Iraqi security forces will gradually take security responsibility by the end of this year for all the provinces of Iraq," he told a news conference.
Iraq ‘can take over in 18 months’, February 2, 2005
Iraq’s security forces could be ready to take over fully from foreign troops within 18 months, the country’s interior minister has said.Falah al-Naqib said he was "confident" that Iraq would be able to handle its own security in that timeframe
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"I think our security forces will be ready to take care of the security of the country within 18 months," he told the BBC during an interview at the interior ministry in Baghdad.
Maybe I am bit too pessimistic and the Iraqis really will take over from the U.S. occupation. The police at least starts to look really serious now.