Barack Obama will announce plans today to cut back troop deployments in Iraq from the current 142,000 level to 50,000 by August 31st of 2010.
The 50,000 troop force is scheduled to maintain a presence in the area for an additional 16 months, an effort that the Obama administration says will help to maintain security in the area that remains brittle.
Majority Leader Harry Reid says the 50,000 troop level is “higher than I anticipated”. Failed presidential candidate and Arizona Senator John McCain praised the decision.
Administration officials said the withdrawal is scheduled in such a way that addresses the over commitment and overstretched state of the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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