February, 19 2009, 10:36am EDT
New Report Outlines How Obama Can Execute Iraq Withdrawal Plan
Retired Officers Caution Against Efforts to Slow the President’s Redeployment Policy
WASHINGTON
In a new report released
today by the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, Lieutenant
General Robert Gard and Colonel Richard Klass outline how President
Obama can responsibly execute his campaign commitment to remove U.S.
combat forces from Iraq within 16 months.
Based on recent press reports, there is reason to suspect that there
may be an effort underway, led by some military officials and
non-governmental analysts, to delay President Obama's 16-month
timetable.
"Our national security would be enhanced by implementing President Obama's 16-month timetable," said retired Army Lt. Gen. Robert Gard. "President Obama's plan to remove combat forces from Iraq is militarily workable and can be executed responsibly."
Gard serves as chairman of the Center for Arms Control and
Non-Proliferation and is a former president of both National Defense
University and the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
The report proposes a U.S. redeployment schedule that would result in
100,000 total U.S. troops remaining in Iraq by the end of 2009; 35,000
to 65,000 support troops remaining in Iraq by July 2010, when the
President's 16-month timetable would end if it is initiated in April
2009; and fewer than 1,000 troops remaining by December 2011, when the
U.S.-Iraqi security agreement (commonly referred to as the status of
forces agreement or "SOFA") mandates that all U.S. forces be out of
Iraq.
"This plan meets President Obama's criteria of being as careful getting out as we were careless going in," said retired Air Force Col. Richard Klass. "Redeployment of U.S. combat forces should be coupled with a diplomatic surge to help stabilize Iraq."
Klass serves as president of the Veterans Alliance for Security and
Democracy and is affiliated with the Center for Arms Control and
Non-Proliferation's Military Outreach Program.
Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)3 non-profit, non-partisan research organization dedicated to enhancing international peace and security in the 21st century. The Center is funded by grants from private foundations and the generosity of thousands of individual donors.
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