U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Cooper, left, and fellow soldiers sit inside a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from which they will practice an assault, during Aerial Response Force Training on Forward Operating Base Loyalty in eastern Baghdad, Iraq, Feb. 25, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. James SelesnickU.S. Forces In Iraq Remain Focused -- Washington Times
AL-ABBARA, Iraq | U.S. and Iraqi soldiers scouring the palm groves here for extremists' weapons caches during a recent patrol seemed to take in stride the announcement that the majority of U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Iraq within 18 months.
About five months into a 12-month deployment, the decision won't speed up their departure. Most are also of the opinion that Iraqi security forces are increasingly capable of going it alone - and will be even more so when August 2010 rolls around.
Iraqis expressed confidence in their own abilities and the prospects of increasing stability. But they did so with the caveat with which they pepper all plans and hopes.
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Turkey may allow US to use bases for Iraq pullout: minister -- AFP
Iraq passes sharply reduced budget for 2009 -- AP
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360,000 veterans may have brain injuries -- USA Today
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