国际英语新闻：Obama announces plan to withdraw most U.S. troops from Iraq in 18 months

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday announced a plan to withdraw most troops from Iraq in 18 months, leaving about 35,000 to 50,000 of the current total of around 140,000 troops behind.

    "I have chosen a timeline that will remove our combat brigades over the next 18 months," he said in a live-broadcast speech delivered at the Marine base of Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

    END COMBAT MISSION BY AUGUST 2010

President Barack Obama speaks about combat troop level reductions in Iraq as he addresses military personnel at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Friday, Feb. 27, 2009

    "Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end," he said. The president said the remaining troops will "likely be made up of 35,000 to 50,000 troops."

    He also said the U.S. military mission in Iraq will "change from combat to supporting the Iraqi government and its security forces."

    The forces to remain in Iraq after August 2010, Obama said, will have three functions, including training Iraqi forces, conducting counter-terrorism missions, and protecting U.S. civilian and military efforts within Iraq.

    The president also said the withdrawal process will go on beyond August 2010.

    "Under the Status of Forces Agreement with the Iraqi government, I intend to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011," Obama said, referring to the security pact signed between the Iraqi government and the former Bush administration.

    The new withdrawal timetable will be three months behind Obama's original pledge to pull out most troops in 16 months after his inauguration.

    Some 4,250 U.S. troops have died and 650 billion U.S. dollars have been spent since the United States invaded Iraq in March 2003.

    A THREE-PART STRATEGY

    While announcing a timetable to withdraw the troops, Obama illustrated a three-part Iraq strategy.

    The first part, of course, is to pull out all combat troops by August 2010, and withdraw all troops by the end of 2011.

    "As we responsibly remove our combat brigades, we will pursue the second part of our strategy: sustained diplomacy on behalf of a more peaceful and prosperous Iraq," said the president.

    He told the audience that Christopher Hill, who has long been American envoy to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, will be new U.S. ambassador to Iraq to lead the second part of his strategy.

    Obama said the United States will work with the United Nations to support Iraq's national elections and help Iraqis improve local government.

    He also said he will use diplomacy and assistance to help millions of displaced Iraqis.

    The president also sent goodwill to the Iraqis, who have opposed the U.S. occupation from the very beginning.

    "The United States pursues no claim on your territory or your resources ... And going forward, we can build a lasting relationship founded upon mutual interests and mutual respect as Iraq takes its rightful place in the community of nations," Obama said.

    The third part of the strategy, according to the president, is "comprehensive American engagement across the region."

    "The future of Iraq is inseparable from the future of the broader Middle East, so we must work with our friends and partners to establish a new framework that advances Iraq's security and the region's security," Obama said.

    "It's time for Iraq to be a full partner in a regional dialogue, and for Iraq's neighbors to establish productive and normalized relations with Iraq," said the president, adding that the United States will "pursue engagement" with all countries in the region, including Iran and Syria.

    MIXED REVIEWS FROM CONGRESS

    The president's announcement received mixed reviews from the Congress.

    Democratic leaders, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, have expressed concern that the residual force of 35,000 to 50,000 Obama is planning to leave in Iraq is too large.

    However, Republican Senator and former presidential nominee John McCain said in a speech on the Senate floor that he believes Obama's decision is "reasonable" and that he is "cautiously optimistic that the plan that is laid out by the president can lead to success."

    He also praised Obama's willingness to leave behind a significant residual force and reassess the situation if conditions change in the future.