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Release A051223f

SECDEF announces plans for troop reductions in Iraq

Multi-National Force-Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq – In a joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, Minister of the Interior, US Ambassador Khalilzad, and General George Casey, Commander, Multi-National Force-Iraq, the U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld Dec. 23 announced the decision to not deploy to Iraq Soldiers assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division as well as Soldiers assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division.

The 1/1 ID, based out of Fort Riley, Kansas, was originally scheduled to deploy in December to central Iraq to replace the 29th Brigade Combat Team while the Baumholder, Germany, based 2/1 AD was to deploy to Eastern Diyala Province of Iraq in November and replace the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. The 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division will remain in Kuwait to serve as a “call forward force” and be ready to deploy into Iraq if required based on the security conditions in Iraq.

The decision to not deploy both units was based on the cumulative impact of the Iraqi security forces across their areas of responsibility, and the significantly increased capabilities of the ISF, especially at the Iraqi Army battalion level, as demonstrated during their professional performance in support of the Iraqi constitutional referendum in October and the recently completed Iraqi elections. It is through close partnerships in training and operations that allow a reduction in Coalition Forces presence to occur.

To date, there are more than 216,000 trained and equipped Iraqi Security Forces. The decision affects approximately 7,000 U.S. active duty soldiers. An improved security situation in many areas of Iraq and increased capabilities of the ISF will allow Coalition Forces to move increasingly to a supporting role. This is an important step toward the campaign objective of a free and stable Iraq whose security forces are capable of maintaining domestic order and denying Iraq as a safe haven for terrorists.

Commanders will continue to assess security conditions in close consultation with and with the support of the Iraqi government. Additional adjustments to troop levels will be made as conditions deem appropriate.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE CPIC PRESS DESK AT CPICPRESSDESK@IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL