Washington Post: Talibani speaks of partial US withdrawal

The Iraqi President Jalal al-Talibani said that the USA might pullout 50,000 of its soldiers from Iraq by the fall of the end of this year, justifying that to the readiness of the Iraqi forces to start controlling parts of the country.

In an interview issued by the Washington Post on Tuesday, Talibani said he will discuss the question of reducing the number of the American forces during a meeting with the US President George W. Bush. He said he considers that the USA will withdraw some of its forces immediately.

The Washington Post reported that "That assessment differs dramatically from those offered by Bush and by U.S. military commanders in Iraq."

Talibani expected that the US will withdraw between 40,000 to 50,000 soldiers of its forces by the end of this year. However, the Washington Post reported that a senior advisor to Talibani pulled back from the comments later saying "Talabani did not intend to suggest a specific timeline for withdrawal. "He is afraid . . . this might put the notion of a timetable on this thing."

The White House said commenting on Talibani statements that the Iraqi president does not intend a proposal of a date for the pullout of the American forces. President Bush had repeatedly denied to determine a schedule for reducing the number of US forces in Iraq.

Though the Iraqi military has become stronger according to Talibani, this does not appear evident from its ability to control Iraq and marshal military operation, a matter which poses a question as to why Talibani wants the US out at a time when Iraq is in such a dire shape with even the possibility of it facing a civil war.