US aims to sharply cut Iraq force within a year

Ah, the rosey picture in Iraq.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States hopes to sharply reduce its forces in
Iraq by the middle of next year, its top commander on the ground said on Wednesday.

The remarks by General George Casey appear to have been the first time since the insurgency worsened sharply in April that top
Pentagon officials have suggested a timeline for withdrawal.

Casey's comments came as a new poll showed most Americans now think the United States will lose the war in Iraq.

"I do believe that if the political process continues to go positively, if the developments with the (Iraqi) security forces continue to go as it is going, I do believe we will still be able to make fairly substantial reductions after these elections -- in the spring and summer of next year," Casey said at a briefing with visiting Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Semper Fi