U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Daniel Murphy discusses security procedures with his soldiers during a pre-patrol brief, March 13, 2009. Murphy is assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania National Guard, Multinational Division Baghdad. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Smith From Wall Street Journal:
TARMIYAH, Iraq -- The most senior U.S. general in Iraq said that if security continues to improve and political progress advances, he may recommend further troop reductions by the end of this summer.
But big challenges remain, Gen. Raymond Odierno said, including the threat that a new hiring freeze by Iraqi security forces, forced on Baghdad by falling oil prices, could imperil gains.
The U.S. military said this month that 12,000 American troops, in addition to 4,000 British forces, will leave Iraq within six months. Gen. Odierno said he will make a decision by early September on whether the U.S. troop presence could decrease further.
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My Comment: Even if there is an uptick in violence, U.S. soldiers are coming home sooner rather than later.